Lionel Messi

Argentina's forward Lionel Messi waits to kick off after Croatia scored their opener during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group D football match between Argentina and Croatia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod on June 21, 2018. AFP PHOTO / Dimitar DILKOFF

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina have cancelled their final World Cup warmup match against Israel scheduled for this Saturday in Jerusalem, striker Gonzalo Higuain said on Tuesday.

"They've finally done the right thing," Higuain said in an interview with ESPN, confirming reports the game had been canceled following political pressure.

Argentina's forward Lionel Messi takes part in a training session at the FC Barcelona 'Joan Gamper' sports centre in Sant Joan Despi near Barcelona on June 5, 2018. AFP PHOTO / PAU BARRENA

Lionel Messi is expected back for tonight's Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Roma and for Barcelona his return cannot come soon enough.

Isco scored a hat-trick as Spain hammered an Argentina side without Lionel Messi 6-1 in a friendly on March 27, while Brazil defeated Germany 1-0 in their first meeting since the 2014 World Cup.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has admitted that his generation has a score to settle at the World Cup in Russia after a series of agonizing near misses in major tournaments.

Harry Kane scored more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi in 2017, but it is on the Champions League stage the prolific Tottenham striker must deliver to be truly measured against the five-time World Players of the Year.

A young Syrian refugee's dreams came true when she met Lionel Messi and his Barcelona team mates after the club invited her to attend a La Liga match earlier this month.

Olympiakos held Barcelona to a goalless draw on Tuesday for the Champions League as its players worked hard to prevent the Spaniards from scoring on a number of occasions at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

The Reds fielded a defense-minded team, with its starting line-up sporting no strikers at all.

The people of Barcelona FC made an impressive video of their first day in Greece for the Champion’s League game with Olympiakos.

It starts with were scenes from the landing of the mission to “Eleftherios Venizelos” airport and one of the first people to see is Lionel Messi.