Lionel Messi removed from Argentina squad for World Cup qualifiers as statement issued

The Inter Miami star and 2022 World Cup winner is the captain of his country still, but has been left out of the squad by Lionel Scaloni for upcoming World Cup qualifiers

Lionel Messi has been left out of Argentina’s squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The Albiceleste captain, who lifted the trophy in 2022, has not been included by boss Lionel Scaloni for the matches against Uruguay and Brazil.

The 37-year-old’s club, Inter Miami, have announced that their talisman has a “low-grade” adductor injury. He felt discomfort during his club’s 2-1 Major League Soccer win at Atlanta on Sunday. Messi, who registered the equaliser in that game, had previously been rested for three Miami matches before coming off the bench to score in last week’s CONCACAF Champions Cup victory at Jamaican side Cavalier.

“Messi underwent an MRI (scan) this morning to assess the extent of the discomfort in his adductor region, which he experienced during last night’s match against Atlanta United,” read a club statement. “The examination’s findings confirmed the presence of a low-grade injury in the adductor muscle. His clinical progress and response to treatment will determine his availability for competition.”

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Messi is Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player with 112 goals in 191 appearances. The World Cup holders can secure qualification for next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico during this international window.

Scaloni’s side, who lead the South American standings by five points, travel to second-placed Uruguay on Friday before hosting fifth-placed Brazil next Tuesday.

Messi is not the only big-name absentee for the two matches. Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Montiel and Giovani Lo Celso have also been ruled out due to injury, while Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho and Manchester City new boy Claudio Echeverri – a star of the Under-20s – have both been left out, having been named in a larger squad on March 2.

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