- Title: Injured Messi ruled out of World Cup qualifiers against Brazil, Uruguay
- Date: 17th March 2025
- Summary: EZEIZA, ARGENTINA (FILE - NOVEMBER 12, 2024) (REUTERS) LIONEL MESSI INVOLVED IN TRAINING GAME DURING ARGENTINA TRAINING TRAINING GAME UNDERWAY VARIOUS OF MESSI AMONGST TEAMMATES MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (FILE - JULY 11, 2024) (REUTERS) MESSI CATCHING BALL VARIOUS OF MESSI GOING THROUGH HEADING DRILL THAT ALSO INVOLVES CATCHING THE BALL EZEIZA, ARGENTINA (FILE - NOVEMB
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: 2026 World Cup qualifiers Argentina Brazil Lionel Messi Lionel Scaloni Soccer Uruguay World Cup
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: South America / Central America,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001950417032025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Lionel Messi was not included in Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni's squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil, with the forward missing out due to a muscle strain.
Messi scored a stunning goal in Inter Miami's 2-1 win at Atlanta United in Major League Soccer (MLS) on Sunday but felt a muscle discomfort, local media reported.
As a consequence, the 37-year-old was left out of the Argentina squad on Monday (March 17), and will remain in the United States to recover.
Argentina, who lead the CONMEBOL qualifying standings with 25 points after 12 games, travel to second-placed Uruguay on Friday.
They then host a Brazil side, on March 25, without forward Neymar, who was set to make his return to the national team after more than a year but has been ruled out after sustaining a muscle injury.
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