Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s omission from the 2024 Ballon d’Or Award has created the theme of the ‘end of an era’, and it has only been reinforced by the fact that Messi will miss Argentina’s games against Chile and Colombia.
However, this is not due to any retirement speculation. Messi simply had an ankle injury in the final of the Copa America, and that has kept him away from the playing field throughout the summer.
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So injury is why the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, as the defending champions bid to book their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup which will be hosted in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) in two years’ time.
According to Scaloni, he spoke with Messi and the latter told him that he was recovering little by little, but that he was not in a good enough condition to play meaning it’s simply wiser to allow him to sit out for now.
However, he did not rule out that he could be taken into account for the November games when qualifying might have to be taken a little more serious depending on the Colombia and Chile results.
“It will depend on whether he plays for his team,” Scaloni told reporters. “So that he can join us in the next call-up that is just around the corner.”
When do Argentina play?
The reigning champions of the Americas and the world will host the Chilean team at 20:00 ET/17:00 PT on Thursday, September 5, before they face Colombia on Tuesday, September 10 at 15:30 ET/12:30 PT.
Another absence that has gained attention is that of Angel Di Maria who had already announced his retirement from the national team at the end of the Copa America following a successful final few years.
Argentina currently lead CONMEBOL qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with 15 points from six games, conceding just twice. Uruguay are second with 13 points and Colombia third with 12 points.
