In a surprising turn of events, Lionel Messi has been ruled out of Argentina’s upcoming CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Uruguay due to an injury. The soccer superstar was not included in Argentina’s final roster announced on Monday, leaving fans wondering about the cause behind his absence.
Messi, who had just returned to Inter Miami’s starting lineup on Sunday against Atlanta United in an MLS match, played the full 90 minutes and even scored the opening goal. However, despite his impressive performance, it was later revealed that Messi had been dealing with a low-grade adductor muscle injury, which became evident after the game.
According to Inter Miami, Messi underwent an MRI on Monday morning to investigate discomfort in his adductor area. The results confirmed the injury, and the club shared that Messi’s recovery will depend on how well he responds to treatment. His availability for future competitions remains uncertain at this point.
This news comes after Messi had missed three consecutive MLS matches earlier this season, citing “load management.” His recent injury is related to that same precautionary approach, as Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano had previously emphasized the need to avoid overloading Messi to prevent any serious injuries. In fact, the team had been in constant communication with Argentina’s medical staff to monitor Messi’s condition, ensuring no further setbacks.
Messi was initially named to Argentina’s provisional roster for the March qualifiers, but now, with the injury confirmed, he will not be joining the national team. Argentina, currently leading the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings with 25 points from 12 matches, will face Brazil and Uruguay without their star player.
As fans anxiously await updates on Messi’s recovery, the bigger question remains: Will this injury impact his participation in upcoming international and club commitments? Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!
