Future Inter Miami teammates Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez to confront off in World Cup qualifying

Lionel Messi and Luiz Suárez, shut buddies, former teammates at Barcelona and future teammates at Inter Miami, will renew their on-the-industry rivalry on Thursday in Earth Cup qualifying.

Messi, who seems to have recovered from a muscle mass personal injury in his leg, led Argentina to its 3rd Planet Cup title very last yr and has his team in 1st location in the South American qualifying group for the 2026 match. The 36-yr-aged Suárez has just returned to Uruguay’s national staff as he nears the conclude of a superior-scoring season in the Brazilian league.

The Argentines will just take on two-time Earth Cup winner Uruguay at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires.

[Related: Lionel Messi models Argentina kit in Adidas’ new throwback soccer line]

Also Thursday, Brazil will journey to confront Colombia in Barranquilla as it tries to recover from a house draw with Venezuela and a decline at Uruguay in its preceding two qualifying matches. Brazil mentor Fernando Diniz, who recently received the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense, could use teen Endrick right after contacting him up for the first time.

Argentina potential customers the 10-team South American qualifying team with 12 points from four matches. Uruguay, Brazil and Venezuela have 7 points each individual and are separated by goal difference. Colombia has 6 details, when Ecuador, Paraguay and Chile have 4 every. Peru has 1 level and Bolivia has zero.

The future Earth Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will contain 48 teams, which means immediate entry for the prime 6 teams in South The united states. The seventh-area workforce will contest an intercontinental playoff for a berth.

ARGENTINA vs. URUGUAY

Messi will probably be playing his final two matches of the calendar 12 months against Uruguay and then Brazil up coming week at the Maracana Stadium. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner concluded his period with Inter Miami on Oct. 21.

Suárez, a teammate of Messi at Barcelona from 2014-20, will return to Uruguay’s nationwide crew for the 1st time under coach Marcelo Bielsa. The veteran striker attained his location in spite of knee pain, which he does not disguise for the duration of just about every match for Brazilian club Gremio.

Each Argentina and Uruguay are envisioned to qualify for the upcoming Planet Cup, but Messi and Suarez are not guaranteed to be with their nationwide teams in 2026.

Argentina still left back Nicolás Tagliafico, however, is hoping Messi will stay in the blend if the group defends its Copa America title next year in the United States.

“If we get, I consider he might extend it a little much more. If we didn’t earn the World Cup in Qatar, he would go away. But he did it and wishes to love it,” Tagliafico told newspaper La Nacion. “If we gain Copa America, I am particular that will be an incentive for Leo to proceed.”

COLOMBIA vs. BRAZIL

Endrick, who is set to be a part of Authentic Madrid in January, is anticipated to get some actively playing time at Colombia.

The 17-calendar year-aged forward is very likely to sign up for Vinicius Júnior and Rodrygo — the two currently enjoying for Madrid — up front.

Casemiro and Neymar, two of Brazil’s crucial players in recent a long time, are out with injuries.

Brazil has had a tricky time profitable in Colombia in the latest World Cup qualifying strategies, and experiencing Argentina in the future match on Tuesday could make it more hard.

“We know that Brazil as opposed to Argentina is a different match since of it all,” Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimarães said Tuesday at the team’s training ground in Teresopolis. “We have a massive focus on Colombia, it is a tricky and actual physical match. We are offering due attention to Colombia and then we will give it to Argentina.”

Colombia will area a recovered Luis Díaz, who on Tuesday was reunited with his father. Luis Manuel Díaz Jiménez was kidnapped by a guerrilla team in late Oct. He was launched past 7 days.

Also Thursday, Bolivia will confront Peru, Venezuela will host Ecuador, and Chile will acquire on Paraguay.

Reporting by The Linked Push.

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