Argentina and Brazil clash for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires for a highly anticipated match. However, La Albiceleste, who have a packed schedule this year, will be playing without some of its key players, including Lautaro Martinez.
Martinez, who traveled to Argentina, was ruled out due to muscle discomfort. “Forward Lautaro Martinez will miss the call-up for this March double-header due to a muscle injury in his left hamstring,” the Argentina’s social media team confirmed on X (formerly Twitter).
After his injury was confirmed, Lautaro posted a photo of him and his partner visiting a vineyard in his hometown of Mendoza. “Happy to be able to enjoy a few days of rest with my family in Mendoza to recharge my batteries and recover from the injury that left me out of the two qualifiers,” Martinez wrote in the caption. “Now I’m recovering to return as soon as possible.”
While the extent of the injury hasn’t been confirmed, it is expected that ‘El Toro’ will be back in action in time for Inter’s Champions League matches against Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Argentina will have to play against Brazil, which will play without Neymar, without one of its key players.
Lautaro Martinez of Argentina (Ira L. Black/Getty Images)
However, Argentina, who also will miss Lionel Messi against Brazil, won their match against Uruguay thanks to a lonely goal by Thiago Almada. With the result, Lionel Scaloni’s men are only one point away from qualifying to the World Cup, which will be celebrated in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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Who will play for Argentina against Brazil?
Apart from Messi and Martinez, Paulo Dybala is another player who couldn’t travel with the national team. The Roma striker is set to undergo surgery on a left semitendinosus tendon injury. Without them, Lionel Scaloni opted to play with Julian Alvarez in the center of the attack, with Almada and Giuliano Simeone as wingers.
For Brazil, however, the plan is reportedly another. Rodrigo De Paul, who missed the match against Uruguay, is set to return to the starting lineup, leaving Simeone out. Nicolas Gonzalez, on the other hand, won’t be able to play after he saw a red card during the last match.
So, a potential starting lineup against Brazil could be: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez; Thiago Almada and Julian Alvarez.
SurveyArgentina vs. Brazil: Who will win the South American derby?
Argentina vs. Brazil: Who will win the South American derby?
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