Is this the end of an era? Lionel Messi will not participate in the upcoming South American qualifiers, missing matches against Chile and Colombia.
The omission of both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from the 2024 Ballon d’Or nominations has sparked discussions of an era’s conclusion. This notion gains further traction with Messi’s absence from the Argentine lineup.
Messi’s exclusion is not due to retirement talks but stems from an ankle injury sustained during the Copa America final. This injury sidelined him for the summer, affecting his participation in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers. Argentina aims to secure a spot in North America’s 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Coach Scaloni shared that he had spoken with Messi, who is recovering gradually but is not yet fit to compete. Scaloni has opted to rest Messi for the upcoming games but did not dismiss the possibility of his return for the November qualifiers, which could be crucial depending on the outcomes against Colombia and Chile.
Scaloni mentioned, “It will depend on whether he plays for his club. That way, he could join us for the next call-up.”
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Argentina’s schedule includes hosting Chile at 20:00 ET on Thursday, September 5, and playing Colombia on Tuesday, September 10, at 15:30 ET.
Additionally, Angel Di Maria’s absence is noteworthy. He retired from international play after the Copa America, capping off a successful stint with the national team.
Argentina tops the CONMEBOL standings for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with 15 points from six matches, with Uruguay and Colombia trailing closely.
