Injury has caused captain Lionel Messi to be excluded from the Argentine national team roster announced by the local football association on Monday, for the upcoming matches against Chile and Colombia next month in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Messi (37 years old) did not join the 28-man list after suffering an ankle injury during the Copa America final held in the United States last month. The player is currently undergoing rehabilitation with his club, Inter Miami.
Also absent from the squad is goalkeeper Franco Armani, along with forward Ángel Di María, who announced his retirement from international play following the Copa America victory.
Coach Lionel Scaloni has called up midfielder Ezequiel Fernández and forward Valentín Castellanos for the first time, in addition to several young players such as Alejandro Garnacho, Valentín Carboni, Valentín Barco, and Matías Soulé.
Argentina will host Chile at the Monumental Stadium on September 5, before playing against Colombia in Barranquilla five days later.
