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Lionel Messi and Luiz Suarez, former teammates at Barcelona and close friends, are set to face each other on November 16 in a World Cup qualifying match. Messi, who appears to have recovered from a leg muscle injury, led Argentina to its third World Cup title in 2022 and currently has his team in first place in the South American qualifying group for the 2026 tournament.
The 36-year-old Suarez has recently rejoined Uruguay's national team as he approaches the conclusion of a high-scoring season in the Brazilian league.
The Argentines will go up against two-time World Cup champion Uruguay at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires.
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Brazil are set to face Colombia in Barranquilla on November 16, aiming to recover from a home draw with Venezuela and a loss at Uruguay in their previous two qualifying matches. Brazil coach Fernando Diniz, who recently secured the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense, might opt to include teenager Endrick after calling him up for the first time.
In the 10-team South American qualifying group, Argentina lead with 12 points from four matches. Uruguay, Brazil, and Venezuela each have seven points, with goal difference separating them. Colombia hold six points, while Ecuador, Paraguay, and Chile each have four. Peru have one point, and Bolivia have zero.
The upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada will feature 48 teams, ensuring direct entry for the top six teams in South America. The seventh-place team will participate in an intercontinental playoff for a spot. Messi is likely to play his last two matches of the calendar year against Uruguay and then Brazil next week at the Maracana Stadium. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner concluded his season with Inter Miami on October 21. Suarez, Messi's teammate at Barcelona from 2014-20, will make a return to Uruguay's national team under coach Marcelo Bielsa. Despite knee pain, the veteran striker secured his place, evident in every match for Brazilian club Gremio. While both Argentina and Uruguay are anticipated to qualify for the next World Cup, Messi and Suarez's presence with their national teams in 2026 is not guaranteed.
Argentina's left-back, Nicolas Tagliafico, is optimistic that Messi will continue to be part of the squad if the team defends its Copa America title in 2024 in the United States.
"If we win, I think he might extend it a little more. If we didn't win the World Cup in Qatar, he would leave. But he did it and wants to enjoy it," Tagliafico told newspaper La Nacion.
"If we win Copa America, I am certain that will be an incentive for Leo to continue."
Endrick, who is set to join Real Madrid in January, is expected to get some playing time at Colombia.
The 17-year-old forward is expected to join Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, who are already playing for Madrid, in the forward positions. Casemiro and Neymar, two key players for Brazil in recent years, are sidelined due to injuries. Brazil have struggled to secure victories in Colombia during recent World Cup qualifying campaigns, and facing Argentina in the subsequent match on November 14 could pose additional challenges.
"We know that Brazil versus Argentina is a different match because of it all," Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimarães said on November 14 at the team's training ground in Teresopolis.
"We have a big focus on Colombia, it is a tough and physical match. We are giving due attention to Colombia and then we will give it to Argentina."
Colombia will feature a rejuvenated Luis, who was reunited with his father on November 16. Luis Manuel Diaz Jimenez was abducted by a guerrilla group in late October and was released last week.
Additionally, on the same date, Bolivia will confront Peru, Venezuela will host Ecuador, and Chile will face Paraguay.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by AP)
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