Lionel Messi has been left off Argentina’s roster for the upcoming CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil. The news comes as a surprise, given that Messi played 90 minutes for Inter Miami on Sunday, scoring the opening goal in their match against Atlanta United. However, it appears that Argentina has decided to exercise caution with their star player.
Messi had previously missed three straight matches for Inter Miami due to “load management,” and his return to the pitch on Sunday was his first start since being sidelined. Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano had stated that the team was being cautious with Messi’s workload to avoid injury. It seems that Argentina is taking a similar approach, choosing not to risk Messi’s fitness for the upcoming qualifiers.
Argentina’s roster for the upcoming matches includes Thiago Almada, a former MLS star with Atlanta United. The team currently leads the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers table with 25 points across 12 games. Messi’s absence will likely be felt, given his impressive record for Argentina, with 112 goals in 191 matches.
Messi’s omission from the roster has sparked speculation about his fitness and availability for future matches. However, it appears that Argentina is simply taking a cautious approach to managing their star player’s workload. Inter Miami, meanwhile, will have a bye on Matchday 5 and will return to action on March 29 against the Philadelphia Union.
Argentina’s upcoming matches against Uruguay and Brazil will be crucial in their World Cup qualifying campaign. The team will be looking to maintain their lead at the top of the table, but they will have to do so without their star player. Messi’s absence will be a significant blow, but Argentina will be hoping that their other players can step up and fill the void.
The decision to leave Messi off the roster has raised eyebrows, but it appears to be a precautionary measure to ensure the player’s fitness and availability for future matches. With Messi’s impressive record for Argentina, fans will be eagerly awaiting his return to the pitch.
