Lionel Messi will be sidelined for Argentina’s upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifier against Colombia. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has been recovering from a high-ankle injury sustained in July, was not included in the 28-man squad announced by head coach Lionel Scaloni for the matches against Chile and Colombia.
Messi, who last played for Argentina in the Copa America final win against Colombia, is currently working his way back to fitness at his Major League Soccer club, Inter Miami. However, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino has confirmed that Messi has not yet received medical clearance to play. While Messi has returned to training in a limited capacity, Martino stated there are no changes to the previously announced return timeline, with Messi aiming for a comeback sometime before the end of Inter Miami’s regular season on October 19.
Argentina currently sits atop the CONMEBOL qualifying table with 18 points after securing six wins in seven matches. Meanwhile, Colombia occupies third place with 13 points, including three victories in their seven games. The top six teams from the CONMEBOL qualifiers will secure direct qualification to the FIFA World Cup finals, which are set to take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The seventh-placed team will then compete in an inter-confederation play-off for a final spot in the tournament.
