New Delhi: Lionel Messi withdrew from Argentina’s next two FIFA World Cup qualifiers with an injury, unable to shake off a right ankle complaint.
The talismanic captain has been bogged down from the perisistent ankle problem for a while, which has kept him away from Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni’s 28-man squad.
World Cup champions Argentina face Chile on September 5 and Colombia five days later in two crucial qualifiers. Messi recently led Argentina to Copa America truimph, having won it earlier in 2021.
Following their successful title defence, Messi’s long-time team-mate Angel Di Maria, retired from national duty after helping them win the Copa title and has been omitted from the squad.
Argentina are currently on top of the leads South American qualifiers with 15 points after six matches.
Messi absent from Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match
Messi has also been ruled out of Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup knockout match against reigning MLS champion Columbus on Tuesday.
Miami coach Gerardo Martino said Messi is still suffering from the right ankle injury picked up in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Colombia in the final of Copa America.
Since that injury, he is yet to practice with his cub team-mates.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa).
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon), Valentín Barco (Brighton).
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Guido Rodríguez (West Ham), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Ezequiel Fernández (Al Qadisiya), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Nico González (Fiorentina).
Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Matías Soulé (Roma), Giuliano Simeone, Julián Álvarez both (Atletico Madrid), Valentín Carboni (Olympique Marseille), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan) and Valentín Castellanos (Lazio).
Lionel Messi is still suffering from the right ankle injury picked up in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Colombia in the final of Copa America Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
