Argentina suffered a massive blow on Monday as Lionel Messi was officially ruled out of Argentina’s crucial World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil.
The shocking exclusion comes just hours after Inter Miami confirmed the 37-year-old suffered an adductor injury, forcing him to withdraw from Lionel Scaloni’s squad.
Messi’s Injury Confirmed After MRI Scan
Messi underwent an MRI scan on Monday morning, just hours after helping Inter Miami secure a 2-1 win over Atlanta United.
The examination confirmed the presence of a muscle injury, forcing the 37-year-old out of the national team squad despite being named in the initial 33-man roster on March 2.
“Messi underwent an MRI this morning to assess the extent of the discomfort in his adductor region, which he experienced during last night’s match against Atlanta United,” Inter Miami said in an official statement.
“The examination’s findings confirmed the presence of a low-grade injury in the adductor muscle. His clinical progress and response to treatment will determine his availability for competition.”
The injury comes as a surprise after Messi played 90 minutes against Atlanta United and even scored a stunning goal, leading many to believe he was fully fit to rejoin Argentina’s squad for the upcoming qualifiers.
Messi’s Grueling Schedule and Load Management
Messi’s exclusion from the squad follows a physically demanding start to the 2025 MLS season, where he featured in three matches within seven days.
He had already missed three games for Inter Miami due to load management before making a substitute appearance in the Concacaf Champions Cup against Cavalier FC.
Mascherano’s Reassurance Backfires
Just days before Messi’s latest setback, Inter Miami head coach, Javier Mascherano had reassured fans that the club was managing his workload carefully, stating that his absence in previous games was purely a precautionary measure.
“We tried to take away from the overload Messi had, so that it wouldn’t go further than that. We tried to handle it in the best way.”
“Luckily, we were able to control it and that it didn’t turn into an injury or much more,” Mascherano said ahead of Sunday’s match.
Unfortunately, Messi’s injury concerns have now escalated into a confirmed issue, forcing Argentina to adjust their plans just days before two of their toughest qualifiers.
Argentina’s World Cup Qualification Campaign in Jeopardy?
Messi’s absence is a major setback for La Albiceleste, who currently lead the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers with 25 points from 12 matches.
The upcoming matches against Uruguay (March 21) and Brazil (March 25) are crucial, and the reigning world champions will now have to face their biggest rivals without their talismanic captain.
Before his injury was confirmed, Mascherano had indicated that Messi was on track to join Argentina’s squad.
“Obviously, the Argentinian national team doctors are in contact with the doctors here and they are the ones who specifically talk about that.”
“I haven’t spoken with the coaching staff, but if they have any consultation, I will talk to them.”
“I don’t think it will be necessary because the doctors are in contact all the time,” Mascherano stated before Sunday’s match.
However, that optimism has now turned to disappointment, as Messi’s fitness concerns prove serious enough to rule him out completely.
When Will Messi Return?
The focus now shifts to Messi’s recovery, with hopes that he will be fit to return for Inter Miami’s MLS match against Philadelphia Union on March 29.
