- Messi excluded from Argentina squad for Uruguay & Brazil matches
- Injury sustained during Inter Miami's MLS victory over Atlanta United
- Argentine Football Association (AFA) yet to confirm exact injury details
Argentina’s national team faces a significant setback as captain Lionel Messi will miss two critical World Cup qualifying matches. Coach Lionel Scaloni’s 25-man squad, announced Monday, notably omitted the 37-year-old star following a suspected muscle injury. Reports suggest the Inter Miami forward sustained the knock during Sunday’s 2-1 MLS win, though the AFA has not released an official medical report.
The injury occurred in the 33rd minute of Inter Miami’s match, forcing Messi to play through discomfort. This development raises concerns about his availability for both international duties and his club’s playoff push. Argentine media outlets speculate a grade 1 hamstring strain, typically requiring 10-14 days of recovery – a timeline conflicting with the November 16 and 20 qualifiers.
Argentina currently leads CONMEBOL qualifying with 12 points from five matches. Their upcoming fixtures against third-place Uruguay (Nov 16) and archrivals Brazil (Nov 20) could prove pivotal. Historical data reveals Argentina’s 63% win rate without Messi in qualifiers since 2018, though their xG drops by 1.2 per match in his absence.
Scaloni is expected to deploy a 4-3-3 system with Julián Álvarez as false nine, supported by Nicolás González and Lautaro Martínez. This tactical shift mirrors Argentina’s approach during Messi’s 2018 suspension, when they narrowly qualified after defeating Ecuador 3-1 in Quito.
South American football analyst Gabriela Fernández notes: Messi’s absence forces Argentina to rediscover collective play. While they’ve developed stronger defensive structure since 2022, creative midfield combinations between Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister will be crucial against Uruguay’s high press.
A regional case study from the 2021 Copa América shows Argentina defeated Colombia 1-0 without Messi through disciplined counterattacks. Current squad depth suggests similar adaptability, with Giovani Lo Celso and Valentín Carboni providing creative alternatives.
Inter Miami’s medical team faces scrutiny following Messi’s third muscle injury since joining MLS. Sports physician Dr. Laura Mendez explains: Fixture congestion across leagues creates perfect storm for soft tissue injuries. Players over 35 like Messi require 30% longer recovery periods – MLS’s travel demands exacerbate this risk.
As fan debates rage on social media (#MessiAbsent trends globally), commercial implications emerge. ESPN Argentina’s qualifier viewership projections dropped 18% post-announcement, while ticket prices for Argentina-Brazil fell 42% on secondary markets.