Injured Messi Out of Argentina’s Squad for World Cup Qualifiers Against Chile and Colombia 

Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after picking up an injury during the Conmebol 2024 Copa America tournament final football match between Argentina and Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami, Florida on July 14, 2024. (AFP)
Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after picking up an injury during the Conmebol 2024 Copa America tournament final football match between Argentina and Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami, Florida on July 14, 2024. (AFP)
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Injured Messi Out of Argentina’s Squad for World Cup Qualifiers Against Chile and Colombia 

Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after picking up an injury during the Conmebol 2024 Copa America tournament final football match between Argentina and Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami, Florida on July 14, 2024. (AFP)
Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after picking up an injury during the Conmebol 2024 Copa America tournament final football match between Argentina and Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami, Florida on July 14, 2024. (AFP)

Lionel Messi will not play in Argentina’s next two World Cup qualifiers because of injury.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni announced his 28-man squad on Monday for the matches against Chile on Sept. 5 and Colombia five days later.

Messi is still recovering from a right ankle injury.

The 36-year-old Ángel Di María, who retired from the national team after winning the recent Copa America, is not on the list either.

World Cup champion Argentina leads South American qualifying with 15 points after six matches.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa).

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon), Valentín Barco (Brighton).

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Guido Rodríguez (West Ham), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Ezequiel Fernández (Al Qadisiya), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Nico González (Fiorentina).

Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Matías Soulé (Roma), Giuliano Simeone, Julián Álvarez both (Atletico Madrid), Valentín Carboni (Olympique Marseille), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan) and Valentín Castellanos (Lazio).



Bayern Munich Loses Croatia Defender Josip Stanisic for Several Weeks to Knee Injury 

16 August 2024, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Ulm: Munich's Josip Stanisic in action during the German DFB Cup soccer match between SSV Ulm 1846 and Bayern Munich at Donaustadion. (dpa)
16 August 2024, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Ulm: Munich's Josip Stanisic in action during the German DFB Cup soccer match between SSV Ulm 1846 and Bayern Munich at Donaustadion. (dpa)
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Bayern Munich Loses Croatia Defender Josip Stanisic for Several Weeks to Knee Injury 

16 August 2024, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Ulm: Munich's Josip Stanisic in action during the German DFB Cup soccer match between SSV Ulm 1846 and Bayern Munich at Donaustadion. (dpa)
16 August 2024, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Ulm: Munich's Josip Stanisic in action during the German DFB Cup soccer match between SSV Ulm 1846 and Bayern Munich at Donaustadion. (dpa)

Bayern Munich and Croatia defender Josip Stanisic will miss the start of the Bundesliga season because of a knee injury, the club said Tuesday.

Stanisic tore a ligament in his right knee during a practice session Monday and will be "sidelined for several weeks,” Bayern said.

Bayern starts its Bundesliga campaign on Sunday at Wolfsburg and is seeking to reclaim the title from Bayer Leverkusen, where Stanišić spent last season on loan.

Stanisic is likely to miss two Croatia games in the UEFA Nations League, at Portugal on Sept. 5 and home to Poland three days later.

Bayern also plays the first two rounds of the expanded Champions League opening league phase scheduled from Sept. 17-19 and Oct. 1-2. The draw for each team’s eight games will be made next week in Monaco.