With six wins from eight games, Argentina sits atop the South American World Cup qualifiers, edging closer to securing their spot in the 2026 tournament. While head coach Lionel Scaloni can count on Lionel Messi for the upcoming matches against Venezuela and Bolivia, he faces a growing challenge: a mounting list of unavailable players.
The latest setback comes in the form of Valentin Carboni, who sustained a left knee injury during training on Wednesday in Miami. After evaluation by the national team’s medical staff, Carboni was ruled out of the squad.
The Olympique Marseille attacking midfielder was seen as an option for Scaloni during this international break, especially given that several other players with similar profiles had already been sidelined due to injuries—most notably Nicolás Gonzalez, Paulo Dybala, and Alejandro Garnacho.
Argentina’s growing list of absentees
Valentin Carboni becomes the eighth player unavailable for Argentina’s clash against Venezuela. In addition to Gonzalez, Dybala, and Garnacho, Emiliano Martinez, Marcos Acuña, Cristian Romero, and Alexis Mac Allister are also absent.
Lionel Scaloni during Argentina-Chile match for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Martinez is serving a two-match suspension imposed by FIFA for inappropriate conduct—stemming from his post-match gestures following Argentina’s victory over Chile on September 5 and an altercation with a cameraman after the defeat to Colombia on September 10.
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Acuña was forced to withdraw after suffering a muscle strain during River Plate’s match against Platense last weekend. As for Romero and Mac Allister, their situations are less severe. The Tottenham defender will serve a one-match ban for yellow card accumulation but will be available for the Bolivia fixture, while Mac Allister, dealing with a minor muscle issue, is being rested for Thursday’s match.
Messi’s return sparks optimism
Amid the mounting injury concerns, there is good news for Lionel Scaloni: Lionel Messi is fully fit after recovering from the ankle injury he sustained in the Copa America final. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is set to start against Venezuela, though the question remains whether he will be partnered by Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, or potentially both, as Scaloni weighs his attacking options.
