Messi, sidelined with a groin injury, is considered among the game’s greats thanks to his stunning displays and achievements with Barcelona.
Bauza, who spoke to Messi before the 29-year-old reversed his international retirement, was stunned by how smart the attacker was.
“What surprised me is how much he knows about football, because he knows everything, about his teammates, the technical team, about football. He’s aware of everything,” he told Sport. “I always thought a player of his standing would have to be a player who knew a lot about football. But he surprised me even more than I thought.
“Leo knows everything about everything. Nothing escapes him. He has a very important understanding and this helps when one has to communicate their idea.”
Without Messi, Argentina was held to a 2-2 draw by Peru and sits fifth in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying ahead of a meeting with Paraguay.
