Here's why Lionel Messi will not play for Argentina in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Brazil and Uruguay.

Lionel Messi sustained an injury during Inter Miami's Major League Soccer victory over Atlanta United. Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches will be against Uruguay and Brazil.

Due to an adductor injury, Argentina's star Lionel Messi will miss their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil. Coach Lionel Scaloni named Argentina's 25-man team on Monday, excluding the 37-year-old Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi sustained his injury during Sunday's Major League Soccer (MLS) victory over Atlanta United. Later on Monday, the Major League Soccer team said that Lionel Messi had an MRI "to assess the extent of the discomfort in his adductor region."

Inter Miami added, "The results of the examination verified the existence of a low-grade injury in the adductor muscle." "His availability for competition will be determined by his clinical progress and response to treatment." During Inter Miami's 2-1 triumph, Lionel Messi was first believed to have suffered a painful left thigh by the Argentine media.

South American qualification is led by Argentina.
Argentina, the leaders of the South America qualifiers, will go to Uruguay, who are in second place, on Friday. Four days later, they will host Brazil, who are in fifth place, at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

For the two games that could guarantee Argentina's qualification, Lionel Messi wasn't the only player missing. Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Montiel, and Giovani Lo Celso were also disqualified. Claudio Echeverri and Alejandro Garnacho were also left off of Lionel Scaloni's March 2 announcement of the bigger squad.

Due to injury concerns, Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner who captained and guided Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph, has missed multiple games for Inter Miami this season.

Lionel Messi made his comeback on Thursday for the second leg of Inter Miami's CONCACAF Champions Cup round-of-16 matchup against Cavalier SC, after missing three games this month.

Lionel Messi is well enough to start Sunday's match against Atlanta, according to Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano. Shortly before he was said to have been hurt, Lionel Messi scored in the 20th minute.