Messi Left Out of Argentina’s 2026 Qualifiers Squad

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni left Lionel Messi out of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil owing to a muscle issue. Local media stated that Messi scored a fantastic goal in Inter Miami’s 2-1 win at Atlanta United in MLS on Sunday but felt muscle pain.

As a result, Lionel Messi was left out of the Argentina squad on Monday and will recover in the US. Argentina leads CONMEBOL qualification with 25 points after 12 games and plays Uruguay on Friday. On March 25, they host Brazil without striker Neymar, who was expected to return to the national squad after a year but has a muscular ailment.

Argentina squad for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven).

Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina, (Lens), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon).

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Máximo Perrone (Como), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Benjamín Domínguez (Bologna), Thiago Almada (Olympique Lyon).

Forwards: Nicolás González (Juventus), Nicolás Paz (Como), Claudio Echeverri (Manchester City), Julián Álvarez (Manchester City), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Santiago Castro (Bologna), Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid).