Coach Lionel Scaloni has revealed details about his conversation with Lionel Messi before deciding to exclude the superstar from the squad.

In the 13th round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America, the Argentina national team will face Uruguay away from home.

This time, captain Lionel Messi was not included in the La Albiceleste roster due to a muscle injury, prompting Coach Scaloni to make the tough decision to leave him out.

During a pre-match press conference, Scaloni shared that he had discussed Messi’s injury with him. He stated, “Leo has been dealing with a problem with his adductor and is not in optimal condition. I am fully aware of this situation, and it’s unfortunate that he cannot play. Despite missing such an important player, the entire team will fight as usual against a difficult opponent.”

Coach Lionel Scaloni discusses Messi’s injury. Photo: Getty

In addition to Messi, the reigning South American champions will also be without striker Lautaro Martinez, who has been diagnosed with a muscle tear.

Scaloni commented, “Every time Leo is absent, I always get asked whether Julian and Lautaro will play together. Initially, we planned to have him in the lineup, but unfortunately, we received news of his injury afterward.”

He added, “Fortunately, we haven’t built a specific plan yet, as everything will need to be adjusted without Leo. I hope he recovers soon because he is always an indispensable player for the team.”

Despite the absence of key players, Scaloni remains confident in rotating the stars of La Albiceleste and aims for a positive result against Uruguay.

The 46-year-old coach further mentioned, “I have already shaped 90% of the lineup; the final training session this afternoon will finalize the remaining details. However, I already have an idea in mind. With several players on yellow cards, we can’t risk holding back. Still, there may be a few adjustments in the midfield area, as the good form of our young players allows us to be flexible and give opportunities to those who deserve it.”

Coach Scaloni is confident ahead of the match against Uruguay. Photo: Getty

Currently, the Argentina national team leads the World Cup 2026 qualifying standings in the Americas with 25 points, four points ahead of Brazil, who recently struggled to secure a win against Colombia.

The match between Uruguay and Brazil will take place at 6:30 AM tomorrow (March 22).