Argentina football team has suffered yet another setback as striker Lautaro Martinez will miss the country's forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil due to a hamstring injury, the Argentine FA announced on Wednesday.
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Lautaro Martinez Out Due To Hamstring Injury
Martinez sat out the second leg of Inter Milan's Champions League round-of-16 victory over Feyenoord last week due to muscle soreness. The 27-year-old returned to score in Inter's 2-0 Serie A win against Atalanta on Sunday before joining Lionel Scaloni's team, but he is now out with a left hamstring injury.
Martinez joins Argentina's expanding list of absentees, which now includes captain Lionel Messi, who is out with a muscle issue, as well as Gonzalo Montiel, Giovani Lo Celso and Paulo Dybala.
Argentina currently leads the CONMEBOL qualifying standings with 25 points after 12 games. The World Cup and Copa America holders face second-placed Uruguay on Friday before visiting fifth-placed Brazil four days later.
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Lionel Messi to Miss Argentina's World Cup Qualifiers Against Uruguay and Brazil
Argentina will have to navigate their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers without Lionel Messi, as coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed his absence on Monday. The 37-year-old forward was left out of the 25-man squad for the crucial matches against Uruguay and Brazil, raising concerns among fans and media alike.
While the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has not officially disclosed the reason behind Messi’s exclusion, reports suggest the decision stems from a sore left thigh sustained during Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over Atlanta United in Major League Soccer (MLS) on Sunday. Despite playing the full 90 minutes and scoring in his return to the starting XI, fitness concerns have led to his omission.