Lionel Messi has been ruled out of Argentina's upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil with a "low-grade" adductor injury. His club, Inter Miami, confirmed the news. The 37-year-old felt the pain during Inter Miami's recent 2-1 victory over Atlanta United. He scored the opening goal in that match.

Without Lionel Messi available for the March international break, Lionel Scaloni will rely on five replacements for Messi.

Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after suffering a groin strain in Inter Miami’s victory over Atlanta at the weekend, his club has confirmed. Inter Miami said in a statement on Monday that a scan had revealed Messi suffered a “low-grade injury in the adductor muscle” in the 2-1 win on Sunday.