Argentina will play Uruguay at the Estadio Centenario without captain Lionel Messi. The defending Copa América 2024 champions return to action during the March international break to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Argentina leads CONMBEOL with 25 points from 12 qualifying matches.
Lionel Scaloni’s team faces a major test. Argentina will play Uruguay in Montevideo after a four-month break. Argentina struggled against Colombia and Paraguay in 2024, whereas La Celeste had only lost one game in eight.
The issue is compounded by the absence of Lautaro Martínez, Paulo Dybala, Giovani Lo Celso, and most crucially, Messi.
Messi will miss Argentina’s match against Uruguay due to a minor adductor muscle strain. Messi withdrew from Argentina’s March international break team at the final minute.
Messi will not play off the bench for Scaloni against La Celeste until he recovers. The 37-year-old will miss Argentina’s Mar. 25 encounter against Brazil.
La Albiceleste will need Julián Alvarez to score without Messi. In his first season under Diego Simeone, Alvarez has scored 23 goals in all competitions for Atlético Madrid, a career-best.
When Messi returns to Inter Miami is unknown. After missing three Herons matches in March, the forward returned before the international break. He played 90 minutes and scored in Inter Miami’s 1–2 win over Atlanta United before re-injuring himself and missing Argentina’s match.
