Lionel Messi has been excluded from Argentina’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil due to recent muscle discomfort. Despite his absence, Argentina leads the qualifying group. They aim to secure their World Cup place in the upcoming matches while also missing other key players due to injuries.
Lionel Messi has been omitted from Argentina’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil due to an injury sustained during a match with Inter Miami. Reports indicate that Messi experienced muscle discomfort after playing the full game against Atlanta United, despite scoring a goal. This marks yet another match he has missed this season, having already sat out three fixtures in March due to a pulled muscle, prior to his recent comeback in a CONCACAF Champions Cup win.
Argentina currently leads the CONMEBOL qualifying group with 25 points from 12 matches, while Uruguay sits in second place with 20 points, reducing the impact of Messi’s absence. The top six teams will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, and Argentina, as the reigning champions from the 2022 World Cup, hopes to secure their place in their next matches. They are set to face Uruguay in Montevideo on Friday and Brazil in Buenos Aires on March 25.
In addition to Messi, Argentina will also be without injured players Paulo Dybala and Paulo Montiel. Meanwhile, Brazil, who are in fifth place in the qualifiers, is also missing star player Neymar due to a thigh injury sustained recently.
The selected Argentina squad includes goalkeepers Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, and Walter Benitez; defenders such as Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, and Nicolas Otamendi; midfielders including Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, and Thiago Almada; and forwards like Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, and Nicolas Gonzalez.
In summary, Lionel Messi has been left out of Argentina’s squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil due to muscle discomfort stemming from a previous match. His absence, while significant, may not hinder the national team much, given their current position atop the qualifying table. Argentina aims to solidify their World Cup qualification over the next two matches, despite also missing other key players due to injuries.
Original Source: www.firstpost.com
