Lionel Messi (37, Inter Miami), known as 'the god of soccer,' has been left out of the Argentina national team roster.
The Argentina national soccer team announced the squad for two matches in the South American qualifying rounds for the 2026 North and Central American World Cup on the 18th (Korean time). Messi's name was not included.
Argentina will play an away game against Uruguay on the 21st, followed by a home match against Brazil on the 26th.
Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of the Argentina national team, noted, "Messi has been excluded not due to injury, but to manage his condition."
Since early this month, Messi has taken a break from his club matches, and after returning from the CONCACAF Champions Cup match on the 15th, he participated in the Major League Soccer (MLS) game on the 18th.
USA Today reported that Messi played the full game for Inter Miami, scoring one goal; however, immediately after the match, he underwent an MRI at a hospital. Currently, the Inter Miami club has not issued an official statement regarding the possibility of Messi's injury.
Scaloni explained, "We want to avoid putting pressure on Messi. We decided to give him time to maintain his optimal condition," adding, "We are also in continuous communication with the medical staff of his club."
Argentina is currently leading in the South American qualifiers with 25 points after 12 matches. The current squad includes Julián Alvarez (Manchester City), Giuliano Simeone, Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), among others.
Meanwhile, Neymar (Santos) has also been excluded from the Brazil national team due to injury. He suffered a left thigh injury during his club match, which prevented him from joining the national team.
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