Argentina Roster Update: Lionel Messi Left Off for World Cup Qualifiers

The latest Argentina national team roster for the upcoming CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers has left off superstar Lionel Messi. The decision comes as Messi continues to recover from an ankle injury sustained during the Copa América final in July. Despite attempting to play through the pain, Messi was ultimately forced off the field in the 66th minute. This injury has kept him sidelined since the final, with the player undergoing gym work separately as he works towards recovery.

Argentina, currently leading the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers with 15 points from six games, is set to face Chile on September 5th in Buenos Aires and Colombia on September 10th in Bogotá. With Chile struggling in eighth place with just five points and Colombia sitting in third with 12 points, these matches hold significant importance in the race for direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup. The top six teams in the CONMEBOL standings will secure automatic qualification, while the seventh-place team will advance to a playoff round for a chance to secure a spot.

Argentina national team head coach Lionel Scaloni has had to make adjustments to the team roster in Messi’s absence. With Ángel Di María announcing his retirement ahead of the Copa América campaign, Scaloni has included new attacking options such as Julián Álvarez, Nicolás González, and Lautaro Martínez in the latest squad. The roster features a mix of experienced players and rising talent in different positions to provide depth and versatility.

Full Squad List

The Argentina squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers includes a strong roster of players across all positions:

– Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez, Gerónimo Rulli, Walter Benítez, and Juan Musso.
– Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi, Germán Pezzella, Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolás Tagliafico, and Valentín Barco.
– Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernández, Giovani Lo Celso, Guido Rodríguez, and Ezequiel Fernández.
– Forwards: Nicolás González, Lautaro Martínez, Alejandro Garnacho, Julián Álvarez, Matías Soulé, Valentín Carboni, Giuliano Simeone, and Valentín Castellanos.

As Argentina prepares for these crucial World Cup qualifiers without Messi, the team will look to showcase their depth and resilience against tough opponents. The absence of key players presents an opportunity for others to step up and make an impact on the field as La Albiceleste aims to secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup.

Soccer

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