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Lionel Messi meets with FA president as Argentina finalise World Cup plans

Lionel Messi received a visit from Argentina Football Federation (AFA) president Claudio Tapia at his Barcelona home as Argentina finalise their World Cup preparations.

The Albiceleste will use Barcelona's training facilities from June 1 until they travel to Russia on June 8.

Tapia posted a photograph on Twitter of himself sitting alongside the Barcelona superstar, writing: "A beautiful morning chatting, having [caffeine drinks] and with a few presents for our captain of our national team."

The AFA is considering playing a friendly against Catalonia in Barcelona in early June before their World Cup group-stage opener against Iceland on June 16.

Tapia also met with Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu on Monday.

The AFA chief recently spoke of his hope that Messi would play less for Barcelona the remainder of the season so the 30-year-old would arrive at the World Cup in top condition.

Messi has a La Liga-high 22 goals and has set up 12 more in 25 league appearances -- with all but one start -- for the league leaders.

Barca, seven points clear of Atletico Madrid, will face Las Palmas away on Thursday before squaring off against Atletico on Sunday at the Camp Nou.

"It's difficult to imagine this Barca losing four or five games, honestly," Atletico's Uruguay defender Diego Godin told Cadena Ser radio. "Barcelona are in spectacular form. We just have to win our games. Messi really does what he wants and when he wants. When you have a player like him in a team, it's very difficult to stop him."