Lionel Messi has expressed his deep disappointment at being forced to miss Argentina's crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil due to injury. 

The 37-year-old football legend took to Instagram to share his frustration and support for his teammates.

"I'm sad to miss these important games against Uruguay and Brazil with the national team. I really wanted to play, but a small injury means I need to rest for a bit, so I can't be there. I'll be supporting and cheering from here like any other fan. Vamos Argentina!" Messi wrote.

Messi sustained a groin strain during Inter Miami's 2-1 victory over Atlanta United last weekend. Following medical assessments, he was left out of Argentina's squad for their match against Uruguay on Friday, followed by a high-stakes showdown with Brazil on March 25.

Inter Miami released a statement confirming that a scan revealed a "low-grade injury in the adductor muscle" and refrained from specifying a return date for their star player. "His clinical progress and response to treatment will determine his availability for competition," the statement added.

This setback comes after Messi missed three games for Inter Miami earlier this month, though he made a strong return with a goal off the bench in a CONCACAF Champions Cup victory. Despite his absence, Argentina remains in a strong position in the World Cup qualifiers, leading the 10-team South American group by five points ahead of their match against Uruguay in Montevideo.

As the reigning World Cup champions, Argentina has a significant opportunity to secure early qualification for the 2026 tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The top six teams in the group will earn direct qualification, while the seventh-placed team, currently Bolivia with 13 points, will face a playoff.

Messi is currently the top scorer in the qualifiers with six goals, showcasing his continued dominance on the international stage. However, Argentina is not only missing Messi—Roma striker Paulo Dybala and River Plate full-back Paulo Montiel are also sidelined due to injuries.

Brazil, Argentina's longtime rival, is also dealing with injury concerns, most notably the absence of Neymar. The 33-year-old forward, recovering from a thigh injury, has had to postpone his return to the national squad. Brazil sits in fifth place, seven points behind Argentina, making their upcoming matches critical for their qualification hopes.

With these key absences, both Argentina and Brazil face challenges in their respective campaigns, setting the stage for an unpredictable and highly competitive qualifying phase.