Due to an injury to the adductor muscle, Lionel Messi will not play for Argentina in the World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil. The 37-year-old was not included in the 25-man squad announced on Monday by coach Lionel Scaloni.
In Inter Miami’s MLS victory over Atlanta United on Sunday, Messi scored in the 20th minute. Despite having an injury, he played the entire 90 minutes. On Monday, Inter Miami confirmed he had suffered a “low-grade” adductor muscle injury.
“Messi underwent an MRI [scan] today to assess the extent of the discomfort he experienced in his adductor region during last night’s match against Atlanta United,” according to a club statement. The examination revealed that there had been a minor injury to the adductor muscle. His clinical progress and response to treatment will determine his availability for competition.”
Argentina, which leads South American World Cup qualifying, will host Uruguay, which is in second place, on Friday, and Brazil, which is in fifth place, four days later, at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. The Argentinian Football Association had not disclosed a reason for his absence.
Messi was injured and did not play in the two games that could determine Argentina’s qualification. Giovani Lo Celso, Gonzalo Montiel, and Paulo Dybala were also ruled out. Scaloni also dropped Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Manchester City newcomer Claudio Echeverri from the larger squad announced on 2 March.
Javier Mascherano, the team coach, stated that World Cup winner Messi has been sidelined by Inter Miami numerous times this season due to the risk of injury. This month, Messi missed three games but returned on Thursday for the second leg of the round-of-16 Concacaf Champions Cup tie against Cavalier SC.
