FIFA World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina, will not play in the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil because of a low-grade adductor muscle ailment, according to coach Lionel Scaloni’s 26-man roster.
In his absence, Alexis Mac Allister, a midfielder for Liverpool, is anticipated to take the team’s lead.
Argentina only needs to accumulate seven of the available 18 points to ensure their automatic qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 26 because seventh-place Bolivia can only accumulate a maximum of 31 points. Uruguay has 20 and will host the World Cup champions on March 21 at Montevideo’s Centenario Stadium. The La Albiceleste will play Brazil at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires four days later.
Argentina’s Team:
Goalkeepers: Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), and Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
Defenders: Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Lens), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), and Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon).
Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Máximo Perrone (Como), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Benjamín Domínguez (Bologna), Thiago Almada (Olympique Lyon), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Rodrigo Paredes (Roma), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), and Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen).
Forwards: Nicolás González (Juventus), Nicolás Paz (Como), Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Santiago Castro (Bologna), Claudio Echeverri (Manchester City), and Julián Álvarez (Manchester City)
