This Tuesday, Colombia and Argentina will face each other in an exciting match for the eighth round of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The match, which will be played at the Metropolitan Stadium in Barranquilla, brings together the two best teams in Conmebol at the moment, in what promises to be an unmissable duel. However, one absence has caught the attention of fans: Lionel Messi will not be on the field.
The Argentine star has been out of action for more than a month and a half due to an injury he suffered on July 14, during the final of the 2024 Copa América, where the Albiceleste team was crowned champion against Colombia.
According to the official medical report issued by Inter Miami, the club where Messi plays, the player suffered a ligament injury in his right ankle, which has kept him out of competition. His return is still uncertain and will depend on the progress of his recovery.
At 37 years old, Lionel Messi did not have the stellar performance that was expected in the last Copa América, compared to his brilliant performance in the World Cup in Qatar and in the Copa América in Brazil in 2021. Physical discomfort prevented him from showing his best version in the continental tournament, which has generated concern about his condition for future competitions.
Messi has so far avoided confirming his participation in the next World Cup. The Argentine captain has said that his continuity will depend on how his body responds in the coming months. In the meantime, the responsibility of wearing the iconic number 10 shirt will fall to Paulo Dybala.
The match between Colombia and Argentina will be key to the aspirations of both teams on their way to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.