The first international break in 2025 put the club football on hold for nearly two weeks, and the players airplanes played for their country.
For some, it’s a distraction when we get to the end of our European season’s business, while for others it offers a chance to refresh and start, or continue to qualify for the World Cup next summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Here we take a look at where the game’s global superstars will play:
Lionel Messi
Messi made an impressive start to the new season in Inter Miami, scoring four goals in six games, despite new owner Javier Mascherano sometimes playing six games in all games.
The 37-year-old is still making strong progress for his country and often talks about his desire to help Argentina defend their World Cup title they won in Qatar in 2022.
La albiceleste sat at the top of the Conmebol qualification table, leading Uruguay by five points. They only need seven points to secure their position in the finals.
Messi will lead in two big matches in this international breakthrough.
March 21
Uruguay v. Argentina (Montevideo) – 11.30 UK time
March 26
Argentina v. Brazil (Buenos Aires) – Midnight UK time
🇦🇷The top list against Uruguay and Brazil in the next two games! 📝 pic.twitter.com/bfpdhi62oz
– English Selección Argentina (@afaseleccionen) March 2, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo scored at an impressive pace in Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, and some of the burden has been relieved despite signing Jhon Duran from Aston Villa in January.
He also has 135 goals in Portugal’s 217 matches and hopes to join the goal when Portugal joins the National League quarter-final against Denmark.
The winner will meet Italy or Germany in the semi-finals.
March 20
Denmark v. Portugal (Copenhagen) – UK time 7.45
March 23
Portugal v. Denmark (Lisbon) – UK time 7.45
Kylian Mbappe
The striker seemed to have found his groove in Real Madrid after a tough start, moving 28 goals in the Santiago Bernabeu debut season on Saturday at Villarreal.
Mbappe was recalled to France by Didier Deschamps for fear of his fitness.
Les Bleus also faces Croatia’s two feet and half legs in the National League.
March 20
Croatia v. France (Split) – UK time 7.45pm
March 23
France v. Croatia (Paris) – UK time 7.45
Mohamed Salah
Salah and Liverpool, one side of his club, experienced several days of pain. First, they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in 16 rounds and then beaten by Newcastle in the EFL Cup final.
Salah was largely anonymous in both games and it was interesting to see his workload during this international break.
Egypt has started their World Cup qualifiers and ranked first in the CAF Federation and scored 10 points in three matches.
March 21
Ethiopia v Egypt (Casablanca) – UK at 9pm
March 25
Egypt v. Sierra Leone (Cairo) – 7pm UK time
Lamine Yamal
The junior superstar continued to shine for Barcelona and scored in a Champions League title defeat to Benfica on Tuesday night and an incredible 4-2 victory at Atletico Madrid on Sunday, a match that Barcelona trailed 2-0 after 70 minutes.
He likely started with a familiar right-wing role as Spain faced the National League quarter-finals against the Netherlands. The winner will play Croatia or France in the last four games.
March 20
Netherlands v. Spain (Rotterdam) – UK time 7.45
March 23
Spain v. Netherlands (Valencia) – 7.45 UK time
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