With a muscular complaint, Lionel Messi missed out on Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni’s roster for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil.
On Sunday’s 2-1 Major League Soccer (MLS) game against Atlanta United, Messi scored an incredible goal but felt a muscle soreness, local media said. Lionel Messi was thus left off the Argentina team on Monday and will stay in the United States to rehabilitate.
Leading CONMEBOL qualification standings with 25 points after 12 games, Argentina flies to second-ranked Uruguay Friday.
Then, on March 25, they meet a Brazil side without forward Neymar, who was scheduled to return to the national squad following more than a year but has been excluded due to a muscular ailment.
Argentina squad for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven).
Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina, (Lens), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon).
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Máximo Perrone (Como), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Benjamín Domínguez (Bologna), Thiago Almada (Olympique Lyon).
Forwards: Nicolás González (Juventus), Nicolás Paz (Como), Claudio Echeverri (Manchester City), Julián Álvarez (Manchester City), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Santiago Castro (Bologna), Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid).
