Lionel Messi has been excluded from Argentina’s squad for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers. The Albiceleste captain, who led his nation to glory in 2022, has not been selected by manager Lionel Scaloni for the fixtures against Uruguay and Brazil.

The 37-year-old’s club, Inter Miami, has confirmed that their star player is suffering from a “low-grade” adductor injury. Messi experienced discomfort during his side’s 2-1 Major League Soccer victory over Atlanta United on Sunday. Having scored the equaliser in that match, he had previously been rested for three Miami games before making a substitute appearance in last week’s CONCACAF Champions Cup triumph against Jamaican outfit Cavalier.

“Messi underwent an MRI scan this morning to evaluate the extent of the discomfort in his adductor region, which he felt during last night’s match against Atlanta United,” read an official club statement. “The scan confirmed the presence of a low-grade injury in the adductor muscle. His availability for competition will depend on his clinical progress and response to treatment.”

Messi remains Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 112 goals in 191 appearances. The reigning World Cup champions have the opportunity to secure qualification for next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico during this international window.

Expressing his disappointment, Messi stated: “I’m sad to miss these important matches against Uruguay and Brazil. I was really eager to play, but a minor injury means I need some time to recover, so I won’t be able to join the squad. I’ll be supporting and cheering from afar like any other fan. Let’s go, Argentina!”

Scaloni’s side, currently leading the South American standings by five points, will face second-placed Uruguay away on Friday before hosting fifth-placed Brazil next Tuesday.

Messi is not the only high-profile absentee for these fixtures. Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Montiel, and Giovani Lo Celso have all been ruled out through injury. Additionally, Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Manchester City’s promising youngster Claudio Echeverri—who starred for Argentina’s Under-20 side—have both been omitted after being initially named in a preliminary squad on 2nd March.