Lionel Messi, a world champion and two-time Copa America winner with Argentina, has stunned his fans by revealing the unexpected reason why he was not called up for the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches in September.

In a statement that surprised many, Messi said: “My priority right now is to fully recover from the ankle injury I suffered during the Copa America final. I don’t want to risk a relapse at such a crucial moment for my career and for my team, both in the national team and at Inter Miami.”

Argentina, which leads the CONMEBOL qualifying table with 15 points, will face Chile and Colombia in the next matches. However, the Argentine star decided to give priority to his recovery after the ligament injury in his right ankle that he suffered on July 14, thus allowing him to avoid the pressures of playing for the national team at this time.

Even though Messi is no longer wearing a walking boot and is working with club trainers, he has yet to train with his Inter Miami teammates. His return to the pitch remains uncertain, but his team is hopeful that he can soon lead them back to the MLS.

Inter Miami, which leads the MLS Eastern Conference, has also been affected by Messi’s absence, being eliminated from the Leagues Cup and facing difficulties in recent games without its star player.

Meanwhile, the Argentine national team will look to continue its good performance in the qualifiers, hoping that Messi can join the team again in the next call-ups.