A group of fans had an unexpected encounter with Lionel Messi and didn't miss the chance to share a special moment with the Argentina captain. Besides greeting him and expressing their admiration, they gave him an alfajor and, with a smile, complimented his haircut. The scene quickly went viral, once again showcasing the immense affection the world has for the Argentine star.

Messi ruled out for Argentina's upcoming matches

While enjoying his popularity off the pitch, Messi will not be available for Argentina’s next fixtures in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. The Inter Miami forward suffered a muscle injury in his left adductor during his team's victory against Atlanta United, forcing him out of the squad for the upcoming clashes against Uruguay and Brazil.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni announced a 26-man squad for these South American classics, with Messi among the notable absentees due to injury. Also missing out are Paulo Dybala (Roma), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), and Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate). For tactical reasons, Francisco Ortega (Olympiakos), Claudio Echeverri (Manchester City), and Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) were also left out.

Despite speculation about more call-ups from the Argentine league, the only player from domestic football included in the squad is Germán Pezzella (River Plate).

Crucial upcoming matches

Argentina will take on Uruguay on March 21 at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, followed by a showdown against Brazil on March 25 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. These matches will be crucial in the race for World Cup qualification.

The Albiceleste currently leads the standings with 25 points, followed by Uruguay (20), Ecuador and Colombia (19), Brazil (18), and Paraguay (17). Bolivia holds the playoff spot with 13 points, while Venezuela (12), Chile (9), and Peru (7) round out the table.

Scaloni’s full squad list

Goalkeepers:

• Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
• Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille)
• Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven)

Defenders:

• Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid)
• Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Germán Pezzella (River Plate)
• Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille)
• Juan Foyth (Villarreal)
• Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)
• Facundo Medina (RC Lens)
• Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais)

Midfielders:

• Leandro Paredes (AS Roma)
• Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
• Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético de Madrid)
• Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
• Máximo Perrone (Como Calcio)
• Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid)
• Benjamín Domínguez (Bologna FC)
• Thiago Almada (Olympique Lyonnais)

Forwards:

• Nicolás González (Juventus)
• Nicolás Paz (Como Calcio)
• Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid)
• Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
• Santiago Castro (Bologna FC)
• Ángel Correa (Atlético de Madrid)

Without Messi, Scaloni’s squad will face a tough challenge as they aim to maintain their dominance in the qualifiers.