Argentina’s national football team will be without their iconic captain, Lionel Messi, for their upcoming FIFA World Cup 26™ CONMEBOL qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil, the Argentine Football Association announced today.
The news will undoubtedly send ripples through the footballing world as the defending World Cup champions prepare for two pivotal matches in their qualification campaign.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni unveiled his 26-man squad for the fixtures, scheduled for March 21st in Montevideo against Uruguay and March 25th in Buenos Aires against Brazil, notably omitting the name of the talismanic forward.
The official announcement, accompanied by a tweet featuring the squad list, has already sparked considerable discussion among fans and pundits.
Messi’s absence comes after a period of carefully managed playing time at his club, Inter Miami.
The 37-year-old recently sat out three games for the MLS side as coach Javier Mascherano prioritized workload management. He missed a league match against Houston Dynamo, the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup tie against Cavalier FC, and was an unused substitute in a clash with Charlotte FC.
However, Messi did return to action, scoring from the bench in the second leg against Cavalier FC on March 14th and then playing the full 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Atlanta at the weekend, where he also opened the scoring.
Despite this return to form, Scaloni has opted to leave him out of the national team squad for these crucial qualifiers.
While the exact reason for Messi’s exclusion has not been explicitly stated by the Argentine FA, it is likely a continuation of the strategy to manage his fitness and prevent potential burnout as the World Cup approaches.
Argentina currently sit comfortably atop the CONMEBOL qualification standings, having amassed 25 points from their 12 matches.
Their 12-point cushion over seventh-placed Bolivia puts them in a strong position to secure one of the six automatic qualification spots for the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the USA next year.
Despite their favorable position, the upcoming matches against Uruguay and, particularly, fierce rivals Brazil are highly anticipated. There is even a scenario where La Albiceleste could mathematically secure their World Cup berth during the home clash against Brazil.
However, they will now have to navigate this potentially historic moment without the presence of Messi, who was instrumental in their World Cup triumph in Qatar in 2022.
The focus will now shift to how Scaloni will adapt his tactical approach in Messi’s absence. The squad still boasts a wealth of talent, but replacing the influence and leadership of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will be a significant challenge.
