Buenos Aires - Saba:
The coach of the Argentine national football team, Lionel Scaloni, announced today, Monday, that Lionel Messi will miss the upcoming matches against Uruguay and Brazil in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, scheduled to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, due to an injury.
Messi's absence comes after he suffered a muscle injury in the thigh area during his recent participation with Inter Miami in the American League. He felt discomfort following his team's match against Atlanta United, in which he scored a goal that led his team to a 2-1 victory.
The Argentine star's injury requires a period of rest to avoid aggravating the condition, prompting the technical staff, in coordination with the medical team, to rest him and avoid risking his participation in the upcoming matches.
Alongside Messi, star player Paulo Dybala will also be absent after sustaining an injury to his left thigh during his team Roma's match against Cagliari in the Italian League. This adds to the challenges facing the Argentine national team ahead of the crucial qualifiers.
Scaloni faces a difficult task in finding suitable alternatives to compensate for the absence of Messi and Dybala, especially given the importance of the upcoming matches in the race to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The Argentine national team, which leads the South American qualifiers with 25 points after 12 matches, will head to Montevideo to face Uruguay, the second-placed team, next Friday, before hosting Brazil on March 25.