Injured, Argentine star Lionel Messi was not called on Monday (17) by coach Lionel Scaloni for the next appointments of the Argentina team against Uruguay and Brazil, for the 2026 World Cup.
Messi was already being preserved at the beginning of the Inter Miami season by coach Javier Mascherano and, after a few weeks outside, returned to the team against Jamaica’s Cavalier on Thursday (13).
On Sunday (16), he entered the field against Atlanta United. He scored one of the goals of the match in his team’s 2-1 win, but felt an injury to the left thigh adductor.
Argentina is the leader of South American qualifiers, with 25 points in 12 matches. In the last round, the team lost to Paraguay in Asuncion and beat Peru in Buenos Aires.
The current world champion faces Uruguay, this Friday (21), at 20:30 (Brasília), at the Centenary Stadium, in Montevideo. On the 25th, it receives Brazil, at Monumental de Núñez, at 21h.
Last week, Neymar had also been cut from the Brazilian team. The athlete is still being treated in an edema in the left thigh, a problem that had already left him outside the semifinal of the Paulista Championship, when Santos lost to Corinthians.
