GUWAHATI: Argentina’s star footballer Lionel Messi will be absent from their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil after sustaining an adductor injury. The 37-year-old was notably left out of Argentina’s 25-man squad, announced by head coach Lionel Scaloni.
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Messi’s injury occurred during Inter Miami’s recent MLS victory over Atlanta United on Sunday. Following the match, the club confirmed that the Argentine forward underwent an MRI scan to evaluate the extent of discomfort in his adductor region. Inter Miami later revealed that the scan results showed a low-grade muscle injury, and his return to action would depend on his recovery progress.
Initial reports from Argentine media suggested that Messi experienced soreness in his left thigh during Inter Miami’s 2-1 win.
Currently leading the South American World Cup qualifiers, Argentina will travel to face second-placed Uruguay on Friday before hosting fifth-placed Brazil four days later at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Messi is not the only key player missing from the squad. Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Montiel, and Giovani Lo Celso have also been ruled out due to injuries. Additionally, Scaloni has opted to exclude Alejandro Garnacho and Claudio Echeverri from the final squad after initially including them in a larger list earlier this month.
The world’s greatest and the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, has faced multiple injury setbacks this season with Inter Miami. Earlier this month, Messi missed three matches before making his return last Thursday in Inter Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 clash against Cavalier SC.
His availability for future matches will depend on his response to treatment.
