LIONEL MESSI will be bunking alone for the first major international tournament of his career this month.
Messi routinely shacked up with good pal Sergio Aguero while away on international duty ever since their days playing for Argentina’s youth squads.
But Aguero’s sudden retirement from footy last year means Messi will now spend the World Cup nights in Qatar alone.
Such was the bond between Messi and Aguero that Argentina have opted NOT to give him a room with one of his team-mates.
Argentine footy expert Roy Nemer managed to a glimpse at the outside of Messi’s room at the team hotel on Thursday.
And unlike the room next to it – which is housing Nicolas Otamendi and Rodrigo De Paul and had the duo’s name on it – Messi’s placard was the only one hanging on the door.
Messi will no doubt be missing former Manchester City and Barcelona hitman Aguero in his Qatari digs.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner paid an emotional tribute to Aguero following his retirement – which came about after he was diagnosed with a heart condition.
He wrote on Instagram: “Practically a whole career together, Kun.
“We lived very beautiful moments and others that were not so, all of them made us unite more and be closer friends.
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“‘And we are going to continue living them together off the pitch.
“With the great joy of lifting the Copa America so little ago, with all the achievements you achieved in England.
“And the truth is that now it hurts a lot to see how you have to stop doing what you like the most because of what happened to you.
“Surely you will continue to be happy because you are a person who transmits happiness and those of us who love you will be with you.
“Now a new stage of your life begins and I am convinced that you are going to live it with a smile and with all the illusion that you put into everything.
“All the best in this new stage !!! I love you a lot, friend, I’m going to miss a lot being with you on the pitch and when we get together with the National Team !!! @Kun Aguero.”
Messi and his Argentina team-mates will kick off their World Cup on Wednesday afternoon with their Group C opener against Saudi Arabia.
Qatar 2022 will be Messi’s last major international tournament as he plans to retire from La Albiceleste duty after the competition.
