"Fans wearing jerseys of the Argentine national team, Barcelona, PSG, or Inter Miami with Lionel Messi's name on the back will not be allowed entry to the stadium. "It's not about Messi or any specific player. We respect the careers of all footballers.

How big Messi’s impact is can be gauged from the fact that Paraguay banned jerseys bearing the Argentina footballer’s name from entering the Estadio Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asunción.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is confident there will be Lionel Messi jerseys in the home section despite the Paraguayan Football Association's ban on rival shirts.

Lionel Scaloni says “there will be Argentina shirts” in the home end when Lionel Messi and Co face Paraguay, with fans expected to defy a ban.