Argentina host Chile for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers tonight (Sept. 5) at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. La Albiceleste are aiming to extend their advantage at the top of the table, but they will have to do so without Inter Miami star Lionel Messi.
The Argentine star wasnāt called up for the national team as he is still recovering from an ankle injury he suffered during the 2024 Copa America final. Actually, Messi hasnāt played since he had to be subbed off during that match, in which his team won the title with a 1-0 win over Colombia.
While the Messi has returned to training with Inter Miami, Scaloni clarified in a press conference that he confirmed with the player that he wasnāt ready to return to the national team. āI spoke with Messi, and it was too early to include him on the list,ā the head coach said.
In Messiās absence, Scaloni has included fresh faces in attack. Giuliano Simeone and ValentĆn Castellanos joined the squad, alongside Alejandro Garnacho, MatĆas SoulĆ©, JuliĆ”n Ćlvarez, Lautaro MartĆnez, and Paulo Dybala.
Lionel Messi suffered an ankle injury during the 2024 Copa America final (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Argentina are first on the table with 15 points, currently two units ahead of Uruguay. They have won four of their last five matches of the qualifiers, only losing against La Celeste (2-0) back in November.
When will Messi play again?
Inter Miamiās coach Tata Martino said that Lionel Messi is aiming to return on September 14, the same day of Miamiās Matchday 31 clash against Philadelphia Union. āHeās doing well, heās been training with the group for a while now,ā Martino said.
āWe have the opportunity to work and focus on the next 15 days. Ultimately, we talked and agreed it was the best option, to see if we can have him ready for the Philadelphia game,ā Martino added.
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That means that Messi could play with Argentina for the next Matchday of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, in which La Albiceleste will visit Venezuela on Oct. 10th and then host Bolivia on Oct. 15th.
