South American Superclasico set for MCG

Feb 10, 2017 - 4:16 AM Lionel Messi will return to Melbourne 10 years after a virtuoso performance helped defeat the Socceroos in a friendly.

The Victorian Government confirmed on Friday the 'Superclasico' - pitting Argentina against fellow world football heavyweights Brazil - would take place on June 9 at the MCG.

"We will have the best two teams clashing here at the MCG," state sports minister John Eren told reporters.

"I think it's going to be a blockbuster. It's going to be a sellout."

The teams share a heated rivalry and are ranked world No.1 and No.2 respectively.

For Argentina, Messi leads a long list of world-renowned stars, including Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Javier Mascherano and Angel Di Maria.

Brazil have no shortage of high-profile names, with Neymar, Philippe Coutinho, Oscar and Dani Alves expected to draw thousands - and potentially a sellout 100,000-strong crowd - through the gates.

And the Victorian Government has an agreement that the leading players - making specific mention of Messi and Neymar - travel to Australia for the training camp and play in the match "barring major injury or illness".

The match will be an important hitout for both sides ahead of South American World Cup qualifiers to be played from late August to October.

"There is 100 years of rivalry between Argentina and Brazil. These matches are always special," Argentine coach Edgardo Bauza said in a statement.

"We look forward to meeting in Melbourne.

"Our priority is to prepare for the important World Cup qualifiers coming up in 2017 and this match and the camp will be extremely valuable."

It will be Messi's first match at the MCG since masterminding a 1-0 defeat of Australia in September 2007 in a friendly.

The announcement on Friday is expected to be followed by another in coming days that the Socceroos will take on one of the sides, most likely Brazil, in another friendly.

Australian coach Ange Postecoglou has requested a marquee meeting to prepare his team for June's Confederations Cup campaign in Russia, which begins with a match on June 19 against world champions Germany.

Source: AAP