Argentina struck with another absence, while Star at Lionel Messi on the sidelines vs. Ecuador adds

Lionel Messi has already confirmed that he will miss ArgentinaLast Conmebol World Cup qualifying match On Tuesday a huge blow to La Albiceleste. And with the team that is confronted Ecuador In Guayaquil, The Lionel Scaloni team has been hit with another important absence.

Already qualified for the World Cup 2026 with 38 points, Argentina stamped his dominance with a 3-0 win over Venezuela on ThursdayA match that marked Messi’s last qualifying in the home floor. Scaloni would like to close the international break in a high tone, but another loss of its starting line -up can make those plans more difficult.

Argentina will be back without a Star Center Cristian Romero For Tuesday’s match against Ecuador. The captain of Tottenham Hotspur was already about to suspend the accumulation of the yellow card, and after he was booked for an error in the 64th minute, he will now be offside and not be available for selection against The three.

Suspended with Romero, the options of Scaloni are back to three: Benfica -Veteran Nicolás Otamendi, Villarreal’s Juan Foyth, and Olympique Marseille’s Leonardo Balerdi. Balerdi is expected to collaborate with Otamendi for defense, although Scaloni is said to have weighed the option to call an extra defender before the trip to Quito.

Reports in Argentina suggest that different names are being considered, including Marseille’s Facundo Medina, Lucas Martínez Quarta van River Plate and Kevin Lomónaco van Independente – which have been shown in Scaloni’s squadrons before. With Ecuador already qualified, the Argentina boss can also use the possibility to rotate and give minutes to alternative options prior to the World Cup 2026.

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Scaloni and forced changes for Ecuador

Although it is the first South -American nation that achieved a World Cup location, Argentina is not delayed and runs on an unbeaten run of six games with five wins and a historic 4-1 win over Brazil. The trip to Ecuador is expected to bring the same ambition, although Scaloni will have to adjust without two of its stars.

Balerdi is expected to go into the middle of the Romero, but the bigger question is who will replace Messi. Compared to the Venezuela competition, possible changes include Como’s Nico Paz as a like-for-like option in the role of Messior one Shift in formation with Lautaro Martínez Die Julán Álvarez with Juláán Álvarez In the front in a dual system.