Lionel Messi will not be joining Argentina for their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Uruguay, as he was left off the final roster announced on Monday.
The 37-year-old forward was initially named in Argentina’s 33-player preliminary squad on March 2. However, concerns over his physical condition ultimately led to his exclusion from the final list.
Messi recently missed three matches for Inter Miami as part of a load management strategy designed to prevent injuries.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed that Messi was not dealing with any specific injury but was rested as a precautionary measure. With a demanding start to the 2025 MLS season three games in seven days Mascherano and his staff opted to manage the Argentine superstar’s workload carefully.
Mascherano said:
“We tried to take away from the overload Messi had, so that it wouldn’t go further than that.
We tried to handle it in the best way. Luckily, we were able to control it and prevent an injury. Today he’s better, and we decided to start giving him minutes,”
After missing three matches, Messi returned to action in the Concacaf Champions Cup round-of-16 clash against Jamaican club Cavalier FC. He then played the full 90 minutes against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, raising expectations that he would be available for Argentina’s upcoming qualifiers.
Constant Communication Between Club and Country
Mascherano also emphasized that Inter Miami’s medical team maintained close contact with Argentina’s national team doctors regarding Messi’s fitness.
Despite his absence from the squad, there were no indications of a serious injury, suggesting the decision was based purely on managing his workload.
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“Obviously, the Argentinian national team doctors are in contact with the doctors here, and they are the ones who specifically talk about that,” Mascherano said.
“I haven’t spoken with the coaching staff, but if they need anything, I will talk to them. I don’t think it will be necessary because the doctors are in contact all the time.”
Messi will now sit out Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay on March 21 and Brazil on March 25.
He is expected to return to action with Inter Miami on March 29 when the team faces the Philadelphia Union in an MLS regular-season match.
With the Copa América 2025 on the horizon, Argentina will be cautious with their captain’s fitness, ensuring he remains in peak condition for the tournament.
