Islamabad, Mar 17 2025: Lionel Messi will not be available for Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Uruguay later this month.
The 37-year-old star was not included in the final squad announced on Monday, despite initially being named in the preliminary 33-player list on March 2.
This decision comes after ongoing concerns over his physical condition.
Messi had been sidelined for three consecutive matches with Inter Miami as part of load management, a preventative measure to avoid any injuries.
Inter Miami’s head coach, Javier Mascherano, emphasized that Messi did not suffer a specific injury, but the team decided to rest him after a hectic start to the 2025 MLS season.
The team had played three matches in just seven days, and Mascherano confirmed that the decision was made to prevent any potential physical strain.
After missing the matches, Messi made his return to action in the Concacaf Champions Cup round-of-16 series, where he featured against Jamaican club Cavalier FC.
Though Messi played a full 90 minutes in a recent match against Atlanta United, his recovery remained a priority.
Mascherano explained that they had taken steps to reduce the overload on Messi, hoping to avoid any further strain and ensure he stayed healthy.
Inter Miami’s medical staff stayed in constant contact with Argentina’s doctors, monitoring Messi’s condition closely.
While Mascherano assured that Messi was unlikely to face any issues with the national team, his absence was confirmed for the World Cup qualifiers scheduled for March 21 and 25.
The forward is expected to return to Inter Miami on March 29 for their MLS match against Philadelphia Union.
