Lionel Messi will be absent for the Argentina national soccer team in their World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil due to a muscle injury.

The 37-year-old star was not named in the 25-man roster released by Coach Lionel Scaloni on Monday. Reports indicate that Messi sustained a sore left thigh during Inter Miami’s recent match, where they secured a 2-1 victory against Atlanta United.

Despite this injury, the Argentine Football Association did not specify the reason for Messi’s absence.

Argentina, currently leading in South America, is scheduled to compete against Uruguay on Friday and will host Brazil four days later at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

Messi will not be alone on the sidelines; he is joined by teammates Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Montiel, and Giovani Lo Celso who will also miss these crucial matches. Coach Lionel Scaloni has excluded Alejandro Garnacho and Claudio Echeverri from the extended squad announced earlier.

This season, Messi has faced several injuries while playing for Inter Miami, with Coach Javier Mascherano highlighting the risk of injury he’s encountered. Notably, Messi missed three games this month but returned on Thursday to participate in the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Cavalier SC.