Argentina dealt injury blow as Martinez ruled out of World Cup qualifiers

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has been ruled out of Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil due to a hamstring injury.

Martinez sat out Inter’s 2-1 win in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash with Feyenoord with muscle discomfort, but returned to Serie A action last Sunday.

The 27-year-old was on target in a 2-0 victory over Atalanta, a result that put Simone Inzaghi’s side three points clear at the summit of the Italian top-flight.

Indeed, he marked his 200th win across all competitions for Inter with his 147th goal for the club, and was named in Lionel Scaloni’s initial 33-player roster.

Despite linking up with his Argentina team-mates, Martinez has since been ruled out with a hamstring problem, with tests showing the injury was worse than first feared.

He joins the likes of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Montiel, Giovani Lo Celso, and Paulo Dybala on the injury table for Argentina’s upcoming fixtures.

Lautaro Martínez will be left out of the squad for this March’s double matchday due to a muscle injury in his left hamstring. pic.twitter.com/aULCbZYG46

— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) March 19, 2025

Argentina take on Uruguay this Friday in what is the first meeting between the two sides since 2023, when Ronald Araujo and Darwin Nunez led Marcelo Bielsa’s team to a 2-0 win.

They then welcome fifth-placed Brazil to the Estadio Mas Monumental four days later, with the possibility of extending their lead at the top of the qualifying standings.

Argentina have won eight of their 12 matches so far (D1 L3) and are five points clear of Uruguay, while they have also scored more goals (21) than any other team in qualifying.