Lionel Messi Absent From Defending Argentina In 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
JAKARTA - Argentina will undergo the Third Round of Qualification for the 2026 World Cup Conmebol Zone (South America) without the presence of Lionel Messi. The star will miss Albiceleste against Chile and Colombia.
Coach Lionel Scaloni left Messi with injury problems. The Inter Miami player has not recovered from the ankle injury he picked up during the 2024 Copa America final.
Quoted from the upload on the official account of the Argentine national team on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, it is known that Scaloni then entered several new names.
On the list, he also left four other players participating in the 2024 Copa America.
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The new additional players are goalkeepers Walter Benitez and Juan Musso. Then, there are defenders Leonardo Balerdi and Valentin Barco.
In the midfield sector there are additional Ezequiel Fernandez. Finally, there are Matias Soule, Giuliano Simeone, and Valentin Castellanos at the attacking post.
Argentina host Chile in the seventh match on September 5, 2024. Five days later Albiceleste travel to Colombia in the eighth match.
Argentina is currently at the top of the Conmebol Zone standings with 15 points. Uruguay is in second place with 13 points.
Colombia is in third place with 12 points. Brazil as the king of the World Cup is in sixth place with seven points.