At least half a dozen of South American football’s most celebrated stars are set to miss the next two rounds of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in United States of America, Canada and Mexico.
Eight time Ballon D’Or winner Lionel Messi is yet to recover from the injury he sustained in Argentina’s 1-0 extra time victory over Colombia in the Copa America final.
The Qatar 2022 World Cup Golden Ball winner is therefore to miss La Albiceleste’s qualifiers at home to Chile on Friday morning East African Time and next Tuesday’s trip to Colombia.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is also without Messi’s longtime mate Angel di Maria who has retired along with keeper Franco Armani. Chile has meanwhile omitted long serving veteran stalwarts Gary Medel and veteran Colo Colo midfield enforcer Arturo Vidal.
Five time winners Brazil must negotiate potential banana skins at home to Ecuador on Saturday morning and away to Paraguay on Tuesday without injured 79-goal record scorer Neymar Jr and suspended winger Raphinha if they are to protect their record as the only country to play in every World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1930.
The 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002 world champions find themselves in an unfamiliar sixth spot in the South America zone qualifiers. Any more slip ups would have the country’s 200m football diehards and their admirers across the globe dreading the unthinkable – a World Cup without Brazil.
Brazil coach Dorival Junior is counting on Real Madrid quartet Eder Militao, Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius Junior and Endrick to combine with English Premier League based stars Alisson Becker, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel Maghalaes, Joao Gomez and Gabriel Martinelli to help improve the Selecao’s precarious position.
THURSDAY
Bolivia v Venezuela,
FRIDAY
Argentina v Chile
SATURDAY
Uruguay v Paraguay
Brazil v Ecuador,
Peru v Colombia
MID WEEK
Colombia v Argentina,
Paraguay v Brazil,
Ecuador v Peru
Venezuela v Uruguay,
Chile v Bolivia
