TODAY IN LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) On the night of Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, Lionel Messi decided not to attend the team’s last practice.

Argentina’s 36-year-old Inter Miami striker exited late last week’s encounter against Ecuador due to exhaustion, which may affect coach Lionel Scaloni’s lineup choices for Tuesday’s meeting in difficult circumstances at La Paz’s altitude of 3,000 meters.

At a press conference on Sunday, Scaloni indicated that he would wait until “a few hours before the match” to make a decision about Messi.

Messi sat on a chair next to Scaloni and observed Monday’s training as the rest of the squad worked. He was talking to the coach while the rest of the team struggled with the altitude and the faster pace of the ball, two factors that make it difficult for visiting teams to win in Bolivia.

Scaloni did not provide any indications during practice about his side’s strategy if Messi does not play at the Hernando Siles Stadium against a Brazilian squad that beat them 5-1 in their initial South American qualification game last week.

Argentina defeated Ecuador 1-0 in its first official international since winning the World Cup in December, thanks to a goal by Lionel Messi from a free kick.

The United States, Mexico, and Canada have agreed to host a 48-team World Cup in 2026. The top six South American teams will qualify automatically. The seventh-place squad will compete in a global playoff for the finals berth.

Many Bolivians, especially the hundreds of supporters who showed out to welcome Messi to the nation on Sunday night, would be disappointed if he doesn’t play on Tuesday.

The local government of La Paz erected a sign near the stadium that said, “Sos grande Messi” (You’re magnificent, Messi) in Spanish. Mayor Iván Arias took criticism for the decision.

Messi has failed to score at La Paz in all 11 meetings, while he has netted eight times in Bolivia. The star striker may tie the record held by Uruguay’s Luis Suárez for most goals scored in South American World Cup qualification if he plays and scores on Tuesday.