The absence of Lionel Messi in the latest Argentina national team roster for the September CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia comes as a significant blow to the team. Messi’s recovery from the ankle injury sustained during the Copa América final has led to him being sidelined indefinitely. His absence raises questions about Argentina’s attacking options and their ability to maintain their lead in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.
With Lionel Messi out of the squad, Argentina national team head coach Lionel Scaloni will have to rely on other players to step up and fill the void left by the absence of the star forward. The coach has included Julián Álvarez, Nicolas Gonzalez, and Lautaro Martínez as his attacking options in the latest squad. This decision puts the spotlight on these players to deliver and make up for Messi’s absence on the field.
Argentina’s upcoming matches against Chile and Colombia pose significant challenges for the team, especially in the absence of Lionel Messi. Hosting Chile on Sept. 5 and traveling to Bogotá to confront Colombia on Sept. 10 will test the team’s ability to perform without their talismanic forward. The outcome of these matches will have implications for Argentina’s standing in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.
Argentina currently leads the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers with 15 points from six games played. Colombia sits in third place with 12 points, while Chile is struggling in eighth place with just five points. The top six CONMEBOL teams will earn direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup. The absence of key players like Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria adds to the challenge for Argentina in maintaining their position at the top of the standings.
The exclusion of Lionel Messi from the latest Argentina national team roster raises concerns about the team’s ability to perform at their best without their star player. Coach Lionel Scaloni will need to rely on other players to step up and deliver in Messi’s absence. The upcoming matches against Chile and Colombia will test the resilience of the team and their capacity to overcome challenges. Argentina’s performance in these matches will be crucial in determining their position in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers and their prospects for the 2026 World Cup.