Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni will be looking for someone to step up in Lionel Messi‘s absence in Friday’s 2026 World Cup qualifying clash against Uruguay.
Messi was left out of Scaloni’s squad after scans confirmed he picked up a minor adductor injury in Inter Miami’s 2-1 win over Atlanta United.
Gonzalo Montiel, Giovani Lo Celso and Paulo Dybala have also been omitted due to injury, while it was confirmed on Wednesday that Lautaro Martinez has been ruled out of the upcoming games against Uruguay and Brazil.
Argentina’s undisputed number one Emiliano Martinez will start between the posts, while Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico are set to feature at right and left-back respectively.
The experienced Nicolas Otamendi should make his 124th international appearance, and he could be joined in the centre of defence by Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero, who returned from injury earlier this month.
Alexis Mac Allister will look to put Liverpool’s EFL Cup final defeat behind him when he lines up in the middle of the park alongside Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo De Paul and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.
With Messi unavailable, Scaloni is set to choose between two Atletico Madrid players as to who starts on the right flank in Montevideo.
Giuliano Simeone and Angel Correa are both vying for a starting spot, although the latter may have the edge after being given the number 10 shirt in Messi’s absence.
Juventus’ Nicolas Gonzalez is poised to offer an attacking threat off the left wing, as he makes his first international appearance since September after missing the final four qualifiers of 2024 through injury.
Having scored 23 goals in 44 competitive matches this term, Atletico’s Julian Alvarez will be looking to carry his club form onto the international stage when he spearheads Argentina’s attack against Uruguay.
Argentina possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez; Correa, Gonzalez, Alvarez
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