March 17, (THEWILL) – Lionel Messi will not participate in Argentina’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil following a muscle strain sustained during his recent club tie. The 37-year-old forward, who found the net with an impressive goal during Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over Atlanta United in Major League Soccer on Sunday, subsequently reported muscle discomfort.
The Argentina national team manager, Lionel Scaloni, made the decision to exclude Messi from the squad on Monday. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner shall remain in the United States to focus on rehabilitation rather than joining his international teammates for the crucial qualifying fixtures.
Argentina currently hold the top position in the CONMEBOL qualifying standings with 25 points after 12 matches played. The team will travel to face second-placed Uruguay on Friday, before returning home to host Brazil on March 25, in what promises to be two significant encounters on the road to qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
The Brazil national team will also be without their star forward Neymar for the upcoming fixture. The Brazilian playmaker had been expected to make his return to international duty after more than a year away from the national setup but has been ruled out after incurring a muscle injury of his own.
Both nations must now navigate these important qualifying matches without their respective talismanic figures, potentially altering the tactical approaches of both sides as they compete for vital points in the CONMEBOL qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
