Lionel Messi Missing on Country Roaster -By Mohammed Jibril Mohammed

Lionel Messi was not included on Argentina’s final roster announced Monday for the upcoming March CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Uruguay, and later was diagnosed with a low-grade injury in the adductor muscle, according to a statement from Inter Miami.

The Argentine played 90 minutes for Inter Miami Sunday night in MLS action against Atlanta United, scoring the opening goal in his return to the XI.

He previously missed three straight matches due to “load management” and made his return to the club off the bench in a substitute cameo against Cavalier SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The team said Messi underwent an MRI Monday morning “to assess the extent of the discomfort in his adductor region,” which he experienced during the Atlanta match. With a confirmation of the abductor muscle injury, the club said Messi’s “clinical progress and response to treatment will determine his availability for competition.”