Lionel Messi Suffers Injury, Forfeits Participation in Argentina World Cup Qualifiers

Argentina's captain Lionel Messi will be absent from the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia due to injury. The 37-year-old is still recovering from an ankle ligament injury he suffered during the Copa America final against Colombia in July. The Albiceleste's 28-man squad announced on Monday did not include Messi, veteran goalkeeper Franco Armani, or Roma forward Paulo Dybala.

Midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez and striker Valentin Castellanos were called up for the first time while young talents Alejandro Garnacho, Valentin Carboni, Valentin Barco and Matias Soule were also included.

Argentina will meet Chile in Buenos Aires on September 5 and Colombia in Barranquilla five days later.

The Albiceleste are currently top of the 10-team South American qualifying group with 15 points from six games so far.

Argentina squad: Goalkeepers: Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven), Geronimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille), Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa).

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), German Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais), Valentin Barco (Brighton & Hove Albion).

Midfielders: Guido Rodriguez (West Ham United), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur), Ezequiel Fernandez (Al Qadsiah), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Leandro Paredes (AS Roma).

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Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Matias Soule (AS Roma), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Valentin Carboni (Olympique Marseille), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Valentin Castellanos (Lazio).

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)