Injured Lionel Messi ruled out of World Cup qualifiers against Brazil, Uruguay
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Lionel Messi will remain in the United States to recover.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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Lionel Messi was not included in Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni's squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil, with the forward missing out due to a muscle strain.
Messi scored a stunning goal in Inter Miami's 2-1 win at Atlanta United in Major League Soccer (MLS) on March 16 but felt a muscle discomfort, local media reported.
As a consequence, the 37-year-old was left out of the Argentina squad on March 17, and will remain in the United States to recover.
Argentina, who lead the Conmebol qualifying standings with 25 points after 12 games, travel to second-placed Uruguay on March 21.
They then host a Brazil side, on March 25, without forward Neymar, who was set to make his return to the national team after more than a year but has been ruled out after sustaining a muscle injury. REUTERS
