Messi Missed as Argentina Name Squad for Upcoming World Cup Qualifiers
It’s official – Lionel Messi won’t be featuring for Argentina in the upcoming CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia. The Argentinian legend is still recovering from the ankle injury he suffered during the Copa América final in July.
In a surprise move, Inter Miami CF announced that Messi had suffered ligament damage, ruling him out indefinitely. Given his ongoing recovery, it’s little surprise that he won’t be risked for the September qualifiers. Coach Lionel Scaloni has, therefore, turned to other attacking options for the two matches.
Argentina currently sits atop the CONMEBOL table with 15 points from six games, ahead of Colombia (12 points) and Chile (5 points). A top-six finish will guarantee direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup, while seventh place will secure a spot in the playoff round.
Squad for Chile and Colombia
Scaloni has named a strong squad to face Chile on September 5th and Colombia on September 10th. Some notable inclusions include Nicolás González, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, and Julián Simeone up front. Midfielders such as Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, and Enzo Fernández will also play key roles.
Defensively, Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, and Lisandro Martínez form a solid back three, while Ángel Di María’s absence will be felt in midfield.
Key Battles Ahead
This Argentina squad faces stiff challenges in Chile and Colombia, two teams not short on quality. Chile will aim to use their counter-attacking style to catch Argentina off guard, while Colombia will look to use their pacey attackers to exploit the Argentine defense.
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