Leo Messi ruled out as Argentina unveil squad for World Cup qualifiers

Lionel Messi is one of the big names missing from Argentina's squad for the upcoming international break. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner suffered a minor injury as he guided his Inter Miami side to a 2-0 victory over Atlanta United on Sunday.

Scans carried out earlier on Monday confirmed that Messi sustained a small muscle injury in the left adductor. As a result, he will not be able to join the 'Albiceleste' for the World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil, who will also be without Neymar, on March 22 and 26.

Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Montiel and Giovani Lo Celso are other stars missing from the squad due to injuries, while Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho is said to have been left out by head coach Lionel Scaloni due to tactical reasons

Argentina are fortunately well positioned in the South American standings and are on course to seal their place in the 2026 World Cup. They are in first place, holding a five-point margin on Uruguay in second.

Full Argentina squad:

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille) and Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven).

Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), German Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Lens), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais).

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (AS Roma), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Maximo Perrone (Como).

Forwards:  Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Benjamin Dominguez (Bologna) and Thiago Almada (Olympique Lyonnais), Nicolas Gonzalez (Juventus), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Paz (Como), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Santiago Castro (Bologna).