The timing is central. The report says Roma’s next listed fixture is an away meeting with Como 1907 on 11 October, leaving only a five-day gap between Argentina’s event and the club’s return to competitive action.
That schedule would involve a long flight to Buenos Aires, the ceremony and match, then another journey back to Italy. For a club chasing a strong start to the domestic season, protecting preparation time and player availability is a rational sporting calculation.
The decision does not necessarily reflect a lack of respect for Messi. It appears to be a scheduling choice based on the demands placed on two players who remain important figures in Roma’s squad.
Dybala and Molina were members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad, giving both a personal connection to Messi’s farewell. Molina scored against the Netherlands in the quarter-final, while Dybala converted in the penalty shootout against France in the final.
Their absence will therefore be felt symbolically, even if the occasion remains centred on Messi. The report says the players were not included in Argentina’s September and October call-ups, which allowed Roma to make its position clear rather than release them through a standard international window.
For Argentina, the ceremony will still bring together many of Messi’s former team-mates and mark the closing chapter of his international career. Roma’s stance simply means two of the championship group will not be present.
Dybala and Molina’s involvement when Roma face Como will offer the immediate measure of the decision. If both are available and fresh, the club’s logistical argument will look stronger; if not, the dispute is likely to continue.
The broader issue will return during future international windows: clubs may increasingly resist non-competitive travel when the calendar leaves little recovery time.