Argentina’s legendary captain Lionel Messi will miss the nation’s final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers due to ligament problems. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni announced the latest squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in September, which also excludes Angel de Maria, who announced his retirement from international football after winning the Copa America in July. Messi will miss both of Argentina’s qualifiers against Chile and Colombia as the team looks to cement its place in the 2026 final.

After suffering a knee ligament injury in the 2024 Copa America semi-final against Canada, Messi’s participation for his club and international matches was in doubt as his injury was also very doubtful for the Copa America final against Colombia. However, Messi played in the final but did not finish the match as he struggled with a ligament problem and was substituted in the 66th minute.

The injury also meant that Messi’s club Inter Miami could not use his services for Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Leagues Cup in the United States.

The latest news will not come as a relief to all Messi fans as they will have to wait a little longer for the player to make his comeback. Currently, no firm date has been given for his return to football, but it is widely expected that Messi could be playing in the MLS in October, with a major battle for the MLS title expected in the final stages of the season.

Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez, Gerónimo Rulli, Walter Benítez and Juan Musso.

Defender: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi, Germán Pezzella, Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolás Tagliafico and Valentín Barco.

Midfielder: Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernández, Giovani Lo Celso, Guido Rodríguez and Ezequiel Fernández.

Forward: Nicolás González, Lautaro Martínez, Alejandro Garnacho, Julián Álvarez, Matìas Soulè, Valentin Carboni, Giuliano Simeone and Valentín Castellanos.