Lionel Messi has been left out of Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers, with the team set to face Uruguay and Brazil later this month, after suffering a last-minute injury while playing in the US league a day before the squad was announced.
Messi was on the field 24 hours before the squad was announced. He played the full 90 minutes against Atalanta United. He also scored 1 goal. In such a situation, Messi’s absence was a big surprise. Later, it was learned that Messi was injured in that MLS match. Due to which he did not make it to the 25-man squad.
Messi’s club Inter Miami has confirmed that LM Ten has injured his adductor muscle in his leg. However, it is not serious. It is a lower grade injury. That is, Messi could have taken the risk of playing in the match against Brazil on March 25 if he wanted. However, keeping his career in mind and considering Messi’s workload, he was not kept in the squad.
Messi also posted a message on Instagram after his unexpected exit from the team. He said, “I’m sorry that I’m going to miss the important matches against Uruguay and Brazil for the national team. I really wanted to play but a small injury means I have to rest a bit. So I can’t stay. I will continue to support like all the other fans. Go Argentina.”
Argentina will be without Messi in their two crucial qualifiers, when they face Uruguay in Montevideo on Saturday morning and Brazil at home on Wednesday.
Despite being at the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table so far, Argentina have not been doing very well recently. They have lost two of their last five matches, with one draw.
