Explaining Lionel Messi's absence from Argentina squad: The 'GOAT' missing from Albiceleste World Cup qualifying fixtures

In September, the current World Copa America champions, Argentina, will be returning to the field for two crucial World Cup qualification matches against Chile and Colombia.

Lionel Scaloni’s men are riding high at the top of CONMEBOL’s fiercely competitive qualification section, two points ahead of Uruguay with six matches played.

Colombia are a point further back in third and will hope to gain ground when they welcome La Albiceleste to Barranquilla on September 10. Four days earlier, Argentina host Chile in Buenos Aires at the Monumental.

However, Lionel Messi will not be involved.

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Why is Lionel Messi not in the Argentina squad?

Messi has not played since injuring his right ankle during the 1-0 Copa America final victory over Colombia on July 14.

In a statement, Inter Miami confirmed the 36-year-old had suffered ligament damage and would be out for an indefinite period.

He sat out the MLS All-Star Game and missed Inter’s unsuccessful defence of their League Cup crown.

Prior to facing Columbus Crew in the last 16 of that tournament, Inter coach Tata Martino said: “We don't have an estimate as to his return yet.”

The Herons return to MLS action against Cincinnati on August 24, a game that also looks likely to come too soon for Messi in light of his Argentina omission.

Argentina squad to face Chile and Colombia

Scaloni has named a 28-man squad, with uncapped forwards Giuliano Simeone and Taty Castellanos the main beneficiaries from Messi’s absence.

PlayerPositionClubWalter BenítezGoalkeeperPSV (Netherlands)Gerónimo RulliGoalkeeperMarseille (France)Emiliano MartínezGoalkeeperAston Villa (England)Juan MussoGoalkeeperAtalanta (Italy)Germán PezzellaDefenderRiver PlateGonzalo MontielDefenderSevilla (Spain)Nicolás OtamendiDefenderBenfica (Portugal)Cristian RomeroDefenderTottenham (England)Nicolás TagliaficoDefenderLyon (France)Nahuel Molina LuceroDefenderAtletico Madrid (Spain)Lisandro MartínezDefenderManchester United (England)Leonardo BalerdiDefenderMarseille (France)Valentín BarcoDefenderBrighton (England)Rodrigo De PaulMidfielderAtlético de Madrid (SpainLeandro ParedesMidfielderRoma (Italy)Alexis Mac AllisterMidfielderLiverpool (England)Enzo FernándezMidfielderChelsea (England)Giovani Lo CelsoMidfielderTottenham (England)Valentín CarboniMidfielderMarseille (France)Guido RodríguezMidfielderWest Ham (England)Ezequiel FernándezMidfielderAl-Qadsiah (Saudi Arabia)Nicolás GonzálezForwardFiorentina (Italy)Alejandro GarnachoForwardManchester United (England)Julián ÁlvarezForwardAtletico Madrid (Spain)Lautaro MartínezForwardInter (Italy)Matías SouléForwardRoma (Italy)Giuliano SimeoneForwardAtletico Madrid (Spain)Taty CastellanosForwardLazio (Italy)