Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his third goal against Ecuador during their 2018 World Cup qualifying match. Photo / AP Photo.
Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde is delighted his star player Lionel Messi won't have to travel to New Zealand next month for a World Cup qualifying playoff.
Argentina booked a spot at next year's World Cup in Russia with help from a Messi hat trick as they beat Ecuador 3-1.
The
win for Argentina meant the Barcelona forward wouldn't need to make the long journey to New Zealand for a playoff.
"It would have been uncomfortable for us if [Argentina] had to go through a playoff," Valverde said in a news conference on Friday.
"I want all my players at the World Cup but I was a little worried about the playoff. It was a long journey to New Zealand and we may not have had [Messi] or Mascherano for the Sevilla game.
