Messi Sidelined as Argentina Eyes World Cup Spot – What’s the Latest?
Lionel Messi is out for Argentina’s crucial World Cup qualifiers this month! Yep, you read that right. The GOAT himself won’t be gracing the pitch when the reigning world champs take on Uruguay and Brazil. And the reason? A groin strain he picked up during Inter Miami’s nail-biting 2-1 win over Atlanta. Ouch!
Inter Miami spilled the tea on Monday, confirming that Messi suffered a “low-grade injury in the adductor muscle.” While that sounds a tad technical, the bottom line is there’s no set date for his return. His comeback depends on how he responds to treatment. Fingers crossed, it’s sooner rather than later!
It’s a bummer for Argentina, especially since Messi had just returned from a previous injury, making an instant impact with a goal in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The guy hasn’t missed a beat until now.
Absolutely! Argentina is currently leading the South American qualifiers with a five-point cushion. If they win their next two matches, they’ll lock in their ticket for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. But without Messi, things could get spicy.
Adding to the drama, Argentina also misses Roma’s Paulo Dybala and River Plate’s Paulo Montiel due to injuries. That’s a big hit to the squad, but they’ve got depth. The team still packs a punch with stars like Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, and Rodrigo De Paul in the mix.
It’s not just Argentina dealing with setbacks. Brazil will be missing its icon, Neymar, who’s out with a thigh injury. This slightly levels the playing field, but Brazil still has a strong squad eager to shake things up.
The road to World Cup glory is heating up. Argentina faces Uruguay in Montevideo, followed by a mega showdown with Brazil on March 25. With only six teams qualifying directly and Bolivia creeping up in seventh place, every point matters!
The Squad List—Who’s In?
Goalkeepers:
- Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, ENG)
- Geronimo Rulli (Marseille, FRA)
- Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven, NED)
Defenders:
- Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid, ESP)
- Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille, FRA)
- Cristian Romero (Tottenham, ENG)
- Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, POR)
- Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon, FRA)
- Facundo Medina (Lens, FRA)
- Juan Foyth (Villarreal, ESP)
- German Pezzella (River Plate)
Midfielders:
- Leandro Paredes (Roma, ITA)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, ENG)
- Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid, ESP)
- Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, GER)
- Maximo Perrone (Como, ITA)
- Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, ENG)
- Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid, ESP)
- Benjamin Dominguez (Bologna, ITA)
- Thiago Almada (Lyon, FRA)
Forwards:
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, ITA)
- Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid, ESP)
- Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid, ESP)
- Nicolas Paz (Como, ITA)
- Santiago Castro (Bologna, ITA)
- Nicolas Gonzalez (Juventus, ITA)
Messi or no Messi, Argentina has a mission to punch their ticket to the World Cup. The squad is stacked, the stakes are high, and fans around the world are ready for some football magic.
