Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil over the next eight days after sustaining a leg injury playing for Inter Miami.
The 37-year-old played the full game as Miami won 2-1 at Atlanta United last night but complained afterwards of pain in his left adductor.
Following further tests, it has been decided Messi will not link up with the Argentina squad.
It was the former Barcelona star’s first full game in almost a month after he was rested due to ‘muscle overload’. He subsequently missed the games against Houston Dynamo and the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Cavalier of Jamaica.
He returned for the second leg against Cavalier as a substitute, scoring after coming off the bench.
Dybala joins Messi on the sidelines
Roma forward Paulo Dybala is also out due to a hamstring problem.
Argentina, who sit top of the Conmebol qualification table, five points ahead of Uruguay, face Marcelo Bielsa’s side in Montevideo this Friday before taking on arch-rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires four days later.
📋 This is the final squad list called up by Lionel Scaloni for the upcoming matches against Uruguay and Brazil in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers! 📝 pic.twitter.com/j34xzALRDY
— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) March 17, 2025
