Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has been left out of Argentina’s squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil.
The 37-year-old made his return to Miami’s starting lineup for their Major League Soccer victory over Atlanta United but sustained an injury during Sunday’s match.
Inter Miami later confirmed that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is dealing with a “low-grade” injury to his adductor muscle.
Messi had been rested for three previous Miami games before coming off the bench and scoring in last week’s Concacaf Champions Cup win over Jamaican side Cavalier.
In an Instagram story, Messi expressed his disappointment, saying it was a “shame to miss two such special qualification games.”
He added, “I wanted to be there as always, but at the last minute, a minor injury forced me to take a break before playing again. But I’ll be supporting and cheering from here like a fan.”
Argentina has the chance to secure World Cup qualification in this round of games, with their match against Uruguay and a home game against Brazil.
The team leads South America’s 10-team qualifying group by five points over Uruguay, with six games remaining, while Brazil sits seven points behind in fifth place.
The top six teams in the group will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, while the seventh-place team will enter a play-off.
After 12 rounds, Messi is the top scorer in the qualifiers with six goals, taking his overall international tally to 112 from 191 appearances.
Argentina will also be without injured Roma striker Paulo Dybala and River Plate full-back Gonzalo Montiel for the upcoming matches.
Brazil, meanwhile, will also be missing Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Neymar, who is sidelined with a thigh injury, preventing the 33-year-old forward from returning to the national team.
