The South American Super Classic is missing two superstars Messi and Neymar

(NLDO) – Neymar has just withdrawn from the Brazilian squad due to injury, and Lionel Messi has also announced that he will not play in the two World Cup qualifiers this time for the same reason.

Having just exploded the MLS arena with a super goal against Atlanta to help Inter Miami come from behind to win 2-1, striker Lionel Messi suddenly suffered an injury and was forced to withdraw from the Argentina team for the two upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Lionel Messi in the match against Atlanta

After the match against Atlanta, Messi felt pain in his left leg and an MRI scan showed that he had damaged his adductor muscle. The injury was not too serious, but after considering the 37-year-old superstar's condition as well as the current position of the Argentine team, coach Lionel Scaloni agreed to let Messi rest and not participate in the two matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America, respectively against Uruguay (March 21) and Brazil (March 25).

Lionel Messi not playing for Argentina due to injury

"It's a pity that I can't participate in the team's two key matches against Uruguay and Brazil. As usual, I really wanted to fight with the whole team, but a muscle injury at the last minute forced me to take a break and be absent this time," Messi announced on his personal Instagram.

List of Argentina team to play two World Cup 2026 qualifying matches in March 2025

Lionel Messi has been called up by coach Lionel Scaloni along with 32 other Argentina players to prepare for two qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup in March. However, he certainly cannot have the services of Messi as well as two other pillars, striker Paulo Dybala and right-back Gonzalo Montiel, who withdrew earlier.

• Neymar returns to the starting point and has a last chance at the 2026 World Cup

When finalizing the list of players to gather in Buenos Aires on March 17, coach Scaloni removed four players at the last minute, including Francisco Ortega, Alejandro Garnacho, Claudio Echeverri and Giovani Lo Celso, for technical reasons. Thus, the Argentine team only has 26 players eligible to play during the FIFA Days this March.

Argentina team missing important leader

Argentina currently lead the South American qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup with 25 points after eight wins, one draw and three losses. Second-placed Uruguay are five points behind, while Brazil are fifth with 18 points. In the first leg last November, Argentina lost 0-2 to Uruguay at home at the Bombonera but won 1-0 in Brazil five days later.

Argentina without Messi, Brazil without Neymar

All eyes on the classic South American match on March 25 will be disappointed, because before Messi, veteran Brazilian striker Neymar also had to announce his withdrawal due to injury right after being called up.

Neymar has a chance to return to Selecao after 17 months but...

Neymar, Messi's teammate at Barcelona and then PSG, has been on the road to regaining his form since returning to his boyhood club Santos. Given the chance to return to the Brazilian national team after a 17-month absence, however, just before the "Selecao" gathered, 33-year-old striker Neymar had to withdraw due to a complicated thigh injury.

Young striker Endrick replaces Neymar

Coach Dorival was forced to call up young striker Endrick to replace him. Endrick is only 18 years old but has already played 13 times for Brazil, scoring 3 goals. At Real Madrid, this player scored 6 goals in 28 matches for Real Madrid in all competitions this season.

It is unclear when Neymar will return to the yellow-green jersey.

The last time Neymar played for Brazil was in the 0-2 loss to Uruguay in October 2023. At that time, Neymar tore his knee ligaments and had to rest for a year. In early February 2025, he terminated his contract with Al-Hilal Club early and returned to his homeland to play for Santos Club. In the last 7 matches, Neymar has scored 3 goals and assisted 3 times. Neymar still holds the record for scoring for the Brazilian national team with 79 goals, surpassing "king" Pele with 77 goals in September 2023.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/sieu-kinh-dien-nam-my-vang-hai-sieu-sao-messi-neymar-196250318090150259.htm