Argentina is entering the World Cup qualification without Messi

Lionel Messi's injury scare in the Copa America final. It proved true. The Argentina captain has not fully recovered yet. He is missing one match after another. This time he gave bad news to the national team. Messi can not play in the World Cup qualifiers.

Argentina will play against Chile and Colombia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers next month. The world champions have given a 28 member squad for these two matches. In addition to Messi, goalkeeper Franco Armani and defender Marcos Acuna are missing from the team. There was no place for forward Paulo Dybala.

A few have been called up to the national team for the first time. Gilano Simeone is among them. Lazio's 25-year-old forward Valentin Castianos. Al Qadsiyah midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez is also waiting to wear the national team jersey.

Argentina will face Chile at home on September 5. Four days later, the three-time World Cup winners will play in Colombia. So far, Argentina is at the top of the list of 10 teams with 15 points from 5 wins in 6 matches in the qualifiers of the South American region of the 2026 World Cup.

Argentina squad against Chile and Colombia:

Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven), Jeronimo Rulli (Olympic Marseille), Juan Musso (Atalanta)

Defender: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevia), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Herman Pesceia (River Plate), Leonardo Belardi (Olympic Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico ( take).

Midfielder: Valentin Berco (Brighton), Leandro Paredes (Roma), Guido Rodriguez (West Ham United), Alexis McAllister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Giovanni Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur), Ezequiel Fernandez (Al Qadsiah), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid)

Forward: Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Alessandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Matias Sule (Roma), Gilano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Valentin Carboni (Olympic Marseille), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Valentin Casteanos ( Lazio)