Soccer-Injured Messi ruled out of World Cup qualifiers against Brazil, Uruguay

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Peru - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - November 19, 2024 Argentina's Lionel Messi looks on REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle/File Photo

(Reuters) - Lionel Messi was not included in Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni's squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil, with the forward missing out due to a muscle strain.

Messi scored a stunning goal in Inter Miami's 2-1 win at Atlanta United in Major League Soccer (MLS) on Sunday but felt a muscle discomfort, local media reported.