Lionel Messi: Argentina leave Inter Miami forward out of next World Cup qualifiers
Miami’s international forward Lionel Messi was excluded from Argentina’s team for his next two World Cup qualifiers.
The 37-year-old returned to Miami’s starting lineup to beat Atlanta United but was reportedly injured in Sunday’s game.
The International Front later confirmed that the eight-time Ballon d’Or D’Or champion had a “low-level” injury to his adductor muscles.
Messi stood out on the Nice bench and took three Miami games before last week’s victory with the Jamaica team’s Cavaliers.
Argentina can qualify for next year’s World Cup in this round when the holder visits Uruguay and host Brazil.
They led 10 teams in South America from Uruguay, with six remaining games, with Brazil ranked fifth and fifth.
The top six will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, while the seventh-place team will enter the playoffs.
After 12 rounds of matches, Messi was the highest scorer, with 6 goals, bringing his overall score to 112 from 191 international appearances.
Argentina will also be uninjured Rome striker Paulo Dybala and River Plate defender Gonzalo Montiel.
Brazil will not have Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Neymar denied Santos’s 33-year-old striker after a thigh injury, which is back to the national team.
