Messi Stays in Miami, Sits Out Uruguay and Brazil Clashes in South American Qualifiers (and There Are More Key Absences)

Summary and Tips:

Lionel Messi, due to an adductor issue in his left leg, has been ruled out of the matches against Uruguay and Brazil in the South American Qualifiers. This absence is compounded by the unavailability of other key players like Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Montiel, and Giovanni Lo Celso. The news has had a significant impact on fans and the team's strategy.

Lionel Messi's absence from the matches against Uruguay and Brazil in the South American Qualifiers poses a significant challenge for the Argentine National Team and its fans. This situation underscores the importance of planning and contingency in sports, as well as the need to develop young talent to face adverse scenarios. It invites us to reflect on how injuries can affect not only athletic performance but also the emotion and anticipation of the fans, and how communication and marketing strategies must adapt to these situations.

1.The Shocking News

The news rocked the morning at the Ezeiza training facility, where Lionel Scaloni's coaching staff was finalizing details for Monday's training session: Lionel Messi is dealing with an adductor issue in his left leg and has been ruled out for the matches against Uruguay and Brazil.

2. Details of the Injury

The superstar played the full 90 minutes on Sunday against Atlanta United and scored his 38th goal in the Herons' colors, though he felt a slight pain towards the end of the match and was sidelined for this double-header in the qualifiers.

3. Impact on the Final Roster

This situation delayed the announcement of the final roster for the matches this Friday at the Centenario and next Tuesday at the Monumental, which was supposed to be released early Monday morning and has now been confirmed by the AFA.

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4. Origin of the Injury

The superstar's injury is believed to have occurred in the 19th minute of the second half, after unleashing a powerful shot with his left leg that was deflected by the goalkeeper.

Later, towards the end, he took another shot, though he avoided taking set pieces.

5. Injury History

• This weekend, the Rosario native had played a full match for the first time in nearly a month.

• "Due to muscle overload, he missed the matches against Houston Dynamo (March 3) and the first leg against Cavalier SC of Jamaica in the Concacaf Champions Cup (March 7); he then came off the bench against Charlotte (March 9) and reappeared on March 14 in the 2-0 victory in Kingston, where he came on in the second half and scored a goal towards the end," we were informed by Inter Miami CF.

• "In 2024, Messi had already missed three other matches due to injury: against Peru (2-0 in Lima and another 2-0 in the Copa América) and in friendlies against El Salvador (3-0) and Costa Rica (3-1)."

6. Other Key Absences

• Messi's absence is compounded by the unavailability of Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Montiel, and Giovanni Lo Celso, who were left out of the call-up despite being on the preliminary roster.

• The Roma forward was ruled out on Sunday due to a left knee injury suffered in his team's victory over Cagliari; meanwhile, Montiel is dealing with a left calf tear, and Lo Celso has been out for a month at Betis due to a muscle issue.

7. Confirmation of the Absence

Messi underwent an MRI on Monday morning, and around noon, it was confirmed that he would not be part of the squad.

8.Team Preparation

Scaloni now has four training sessions to finalize the lineup for Friday's match against Marcelo Bielsa's Celeste, though there are unlikely to be any surprises, with Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, and Nicolás González forming the attacking trio.

9.Bench Alternatives

Bench alternatives? Ángel Correa, Thiago Almada, Nicolás Paz, and Benjamín Domínguez, who will make his senior debut thanks to his strong performances at Bologna.

10. Impact on the 2025 Season

• Unfortunately, 2025 has not started well for Messi, who had set a goal to play as many matches as possible this year and approach the final stretch towards the World Cup in the best possible way.

• If he is not available for the March 29 match against Philadelphia, the number 10 could play only 37 matches for the rest of the season, depending on how his team fares in the various tournaments ahead.

• For the national team, the next qualifier window will not be until the first week of June, when Argentina visits Chile and hosts Colombia, perhaps with the ticket to the 2026 World Cup already secured.

11.A Tough Blow for Fans

A tough blow for the team an

d especially for the fans, who will not see Messi or Neymar in the classic at the Monumental, as both will be absent due to injury.

"Tickets for the match against Brazil will go on sale on Tuesday, likely with much lower demand than expected."

12. History of Absences in Classics

• This will be the second time Messi misses an official classic due to injury, as he was also absent for the 1-1 draw in 2015 in the qualifiers for Russia due to a torn ligament in his left knee, the third-longest recovery of his career.

• This time, it is estimated he will return to the field in a matter of weeks, though this unexpected absence from the national team hurts more than ever.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

• Why won't Lionel Messi play against Uruguay and Brazil?

Lionel Messi will not play due to an adductor issue in his left leg.

• Who are the other key absences for these matches?

In addition to Messi, Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Montiel, and Giovanni Lo Celso are also out of the call-up due to injuries.

• What impact might Messi's absence have on the Argentine National Team?

Messi's absence could affect the team's performance and strategy, though the coaching staff has confidence in the available alternatives.

• When is Messi expected to return to play?

Messi is expected to return to the field in a matter of weeks, though he will not be available for Argentina's upcoming matches.

• How will Messi's absence affect ticket sales for the match against Brazil?

The absence of Messi and Neymar could reduce ticket demand for the match against Brazil.

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