Messi Out of Argentina’s World Cup Qualifiers with Groin Strain
Lionel Messi will be absent from Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil after sustaining a groin strain during Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over Atlanta United over the weekend, Al Jazeera reports.
The club confirmed the injury in a statement released Monday, revealing that scans showed a “low-grade injury in the adductor muscle.”
Inter Miami provided no specific timeline for Messi’s return, stating that “His clinical progress and response to treatment will determine his availability for competition.” The injury comes shortly after the 37-year-old Argentine captain returned to the pitch after missing three games earlier this month, marking his comeback with a goal off the bench in a CONCACAF Champions Cup win.
Messi’s absence is a significant blow to Argentina, who are currently leading the 10-team South American qualifying group by five points ahead of their match against Uruguay in Montevideo on Friday. They follow that up with a crucial showdown against Brazil on March 25. With two wins, Argentina could secure their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The top six teams from the South American qualifying group will automatically advance to the tournament.
Despite missing these crucial matches, Messi remains the top scorer in the qualifying competition with six goals after 12 rounds.
Adding to Argentina’s woes, Roma striker Paulo Dybala and River Plate fullback Paulo Montiel will also be unavailable due to injuries.
Brazil will also be without a key player as Neymar, 33, remains sidelined with a thigh injury, postponing his return to the national team. Brazil currently sits in fifth place, seven points behind their rivals Argentina, making their upcoming clash even more critical.
