Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi was not selected for Argentina’s next two World Cup 2026 qualification matches.

On Monday, March 17, 2025, Messi played a Major League Soccer match, scoring the first goal as his team won 2-1 against Atlanta United.

After the match, the team's medical staff reported that Messi had suffered a thigh injury. This injury follows another one that previously made him miss three games.

Due to this latest injury, Argentina’s coach, Lionel Sebastián Scaloni, decided not to include Messi in the squad that will face Brazil, which also recently lost Neymar to injury, and Uruguay.

After 12 matches, Argentina leads their group with 25 points, followed by Uruguay with 20. Winning both upcoming matches would guarantee Argentina a spot in the next World Cup, set to take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

Besides the 37-year-old Messi, Argentina will also miss other key players like AS Roma forward Paulo Dybala, who will be sidelined for a month, and defender Gonzalo Montiel from River Plate due to injuries.