Lionel Messi is getting more time to recover from his ankle injury sustained during the Copa America.

The renowned Argentine forward, who led his team to victory in the World Cup and twice in the Copa America, was absent from the roster released by Argentina on Monday for the upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifiers in September.

In their first match, Argentina will face Chile on September 5 at 8 p.m. ET at Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires.

The second game will pit them against Colombia on September 10 at 4:30 p.m. ET at Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia, which is a rematch of the Copa America final.

Messi’s absence from the national team allows him to focus on rehabilitation from his right ankle ligament injury, which he incurred during the Copa America final on July 14, without the added pressure of competing.

While Messi has stopped using a walking boot and is working with trainers at Inter Miami, he has not yet practiced with his teammates since his injury. The timeline for his return to play remains uncertain.

Inter Miami will continue its MLS regular season this Saturday at home against FC Cincinnati, with both teams currently leading the MLS Eastern Conference.

Last Tuesday, Inter Miami faced a setback in the Leagues Cup tournament when they were knocked out by the reigning MLS champions, Columbus Crew. This loss marked their third defeat in 11 games without Messi since he left for Copa America on June 1.

Currently, Inter Miami holds the top position in the MLS Eastern Conference with 53 points, leading Cincinnati by five points and the Crew by ten points.

In the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings, Argentina is in the lead with 15 points, having achieved five wins and one loss. Uruguay follows with 13 points, then Colombia with 12, Venezuela with nine, Ecuador with eight, and Brazil with seven—all in contention for slots in the 2026 World Cup.

The next World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.