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 Sunday but felt a muscle discomfort, local media reported.
As a consequence, the 37-year-old was left out of the Argentina squad on Monday, 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 Friday.
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.
Meanwhile, Mozambican captain Dominguêz (Elias Pelembe) has been forced out of his country’s World Cup qualifier against Uganda on Thursday to the anger of his coach Chiquinho Conde.
The 41-year-old veteran, who previously starred in the Premier Soccer League for SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns, was unable to get a visa in time for the trip to Egypt, where Mozambique have been forced to host their Group G encounter because of the recent damage to the Zimpeto Stadium in Maputo.
“When we are captains, we have additional responsibilities. We must have the humility to understand that when we are asked for documentation to obtain a visa, we must be the first to set an example,” said Conde.
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