Why isn't Lionel Messi playing for Argentina against Brazil tonight? | OneFootball

Iconic Albiceleste captain is among a whole host of top players missing crunch World Cup qualifier, including Neymar

Argentina take on Brazil tonight in a high-profile qualifier for the 2026 World Cup, but Lionel Messi will not be involved.

Tuesday night’s showdown at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires pits two of the sport’s biggest and most iconic rivals against each other for the first time since November 2023 on the road to next summer’s finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Both nations are firmly on track to go to the World Cup and a defeat for either would not do much damage to their respective qualification bids, while holders Argentina can even seal their spot tonight with four matches to spare.

However, there are more than just usual derby bragging rights on offer as Brazil seek revenge for their 1-0 loss in the last meeting at the Maracana, when Nicolas Otamendi’s second-half goal condemned them to a first-ever home loss in World Cup qualifying in a feisty clash that was delayed due to crowd trouble.

Brazil have not won any of the last four meetings with Argentina, famously losing the 2021 Copa America final on home soil in Rio de Janeiro.

Why isn’t Lionel Messi playing for Argentina against Brazil?

Argentina go into tonight’s contest against their arch-rivals without influential skipper Messi, who will play no part.

The iconic Messi is both his country’s most-capped player (191) and top scorer (112) and remains as important as ever ahead of turning 38 as he closes in on a remarkable double century of senior international appearances, currently fourth on the all-time list topped by long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, he has not been offered the chance to add to those astonishing tallies during the current round of internationals, which Argentina began by cementing their status at the summit of South American qualifying with a bad-tempered 1-0 win over Uruguay in Montevideo sealed by Thiago Almada’s effort.

That is because the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner recently suffered an injury while on club duty with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Messi suffered a thigh issue having returned from muscle fatigue to make just his second regular-season appearance of the 2025 MLS campaign against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 16, despite scoring his first goal of the season in a 2-1 win for a team managed by former Argentina team-mate Javier Mascherano.

He subsequently underwent an MRI scan and Inter Miami confirmed he had sustained a low-grade adductor issue, with his return timeline to be determined by how well the problem responds to treatment.

Load management: Messi has played just twice for Inter Miami in the MLS so far this season

AFP via Getty Images

“It’s a shame to miss these two special matches with the national team against Uruguay and Brazil,” Messi then wrote on Instagram. “As always, I wanted to be there, but at the last moment, a minor injury forced me to take a break before playing again, and I had to step aside.

“But I'll be supporting and cheering from here like a fan.”

Messi is far from the only key player missing from Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina squad against Brazil, with Lautaro Martinez, Lisandro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Giovani Lo Celso and Gonzalo Montiel among their other absentees and Juventus winger Nicolas Gonzalez suspended after being sent off in the closing seconds against Uruguay for a reckless high challenge on Nahitan Nandez.

Read more: How to watch Argentina vs Brazil live tonight

Brazil have plenty missing themselves, with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker and midfielder Gerson both withdrawing from Dorival Junior’s squad after injuries sustained in Thursday’s dramatic 2-1 home win over Colombia in which Vinicius Jr scored a 99th-minute winner after Raphinha’s early penalty was cancelled out by Luis Diaz.

Arsenal defender Gabriel and Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes are both suspended after yellow cards picked up in that game, while Neymar is also out along with former team-mate Messi after suffering a setback in his bid for a first Selecao return for 17 months.