REVEALED: Why Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers

Lionel Messi in the Argentina dugout after his Copa America final withdrawal (Credit: Imago)

REVEALED: Why Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers

Stephen Awino 09:50 - 18.03.2025

Argentina's all-time top goal scorer Lionel Messi is set to miss the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Argentina’s all-time top scorer, Lionel Messi, is set to miss the upcoming international break after suffering a muscle injury.

According to renowned Italian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano, Messi underwent a scan on the morning of March 18, following Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over Atlanta United.

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The results confirmed a small muscle injury in the adductor area, ruling him out of Argentina’s crucial World Cup qualifiers.

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The injury setback means Messi will be unavailable when Argentina face Uruguay on March 22 and Brazil on March 26.

His absence will be a significant blow for the reigning world champions, who currently lead the World Cup qualifying group standings with 25 points from 12 matches.

Messi had played a key role in Inter Miami’s recent win, scoring the opening goal before being substituted.

While his club will hope for a quick recovery, Argentina will have to navigate their two high-stakes fixtures without their talismanic captain.

As Argentina prepares for their clashes against two of South America’s strongest teams, head coach Lionel Scaloni will need to find alternative solutions in attack.

With Messi sidelined, the focus will shift to other stars such as Angel Di Maria, Julian Alvarez, and Lautaro Martinez to step up in his absence.