A groin injury has sidelined Lionel Messi from Argentina’s crucial World Cup qualifiers this month. The 37-year-old suffered the setback during Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over Atlanta, with scans confirming a low-grade adductor muscle strain. His club has not provided a timeline for his return, stating that his availability will depend on his recovery progress.
Messi’s absence is a significant blow for Argentina as they prepare to face Uruguay on Friday and Brazil on March 25. The reigning world champions currently lead the South American qualifying group by five points and are on the verge of securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
In addition to Messi, Argentina will also be without Roma forward Paulo Dybala and River Plate defender Paulo Montiel, both ruled out due to injuries. Their rivals, Brazil, will be missing Neymar, who is still recovering from a thigh problem. Brazil sits fifth in the standings, seven points behind Argentina.
Messi had only just returned from a previous injury, making a comeback with a goal in a CONCACAF Champions Cup match. However, his latest setback has once again put him on the sidelines at a crucial stage of the qualifiers. Despite his limited appearances, Messi remains the top scorer in the competition with six goals.
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Argentina’s squad still boasts a strong lineup, including key players such as Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernandez, and Lautaro Martinez. The team will rely on its depth and attacking options as it prepares for two high-stakes encounters.
Uruguay, currently second in the standings, will look to capitalize on Messi’s absence when they host Argentina in Montevideo. The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 2-0 victory for Uruguay, making this a highly anticipated rematch.
Following the Uruguay clash, Argentina will face Brazil, a team struggling to find form in the qualifiers. With Neymar out, Brazil will depend on their younger talents to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Argentina’s focus remains on securing qualification as early as possible. A strong performance in these two matches could solidify their dominance in South America and put them on course to defend their world title in 2026.
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