Lionel Messi is the captain of Argentina
Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has been left out of the national squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Messi, who lifted the trophy in 2022, has not been included by coach Lionel Scaloni for the matches against Uruguay and Brazil.
This decision comes after Inter Miami announced that their talisman has a “low-grade” adductor injury.
According to a statement by the club, the 37-year-old experienced discomfort during his team’s 2-1 Major League Soccer win over Atlanta on Sunday, March 16, 2025.
Messi, who scored the equaliser in that game, had previously been rested for three Miami matches before coming off the bench to score in last week’s CONCACAF Champions Cup victory against Jamaican side Cavalier.
“Messi underwent an MRI scan this morning to assess the extent of the discomfort in his adductor region, which he experienced during last night’s match against Atlanta United. The examination’s findings confirmed the presence of a low-grade injury in the adductor muscle. His clinical progress and response to treatment will determine his availability for competition,” read a club statement.
Messi, Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player with 112 goals in 191 appearances, expressed his disappointment at missing the games.
“I’m sad to miss these important games against Uruguay and Brazil. I really wanted to play, but a small injury means I need to rest for a bit, so I can’t be there. I’ll be supporting and cheering from here like any other fan. Let’s go, Argentina,” he said.
Scaloni’s side, who lead the South American standings by five points, will travel to second-placed Uruguay on Friday, March 21, 2025, before hosting fifth-placed Brazil on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Messi is not the only prominent absentee for the two matches. Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Montiel, and Giovani Lo Celso have also been ruled out due to injuries.
Meanwhile, watch Minister of Sports Kofi Adams dismisses criticism of Black Stars’ commitment
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