Lautaro Martinez Ruled Out of Argentina's World Cup Qualifiers Against Uruguay, Brazil

Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil due to a hamstring injury, according to the Argentine FA. Despite scoring in Inter Milan's recent 2-0 victory over Atalanta, Martinez's condition worsened, leading to his exclusion from the national team. He joins a growing list of absentees, including captain Lionel Messi, who is sidelined with a muscle strain, as well as Gonzalo Montiel, Giovani Lo Celso, and Paulo Dybala. Argentina currently leads the CONMEBOL qualifying standings with 25 points after 12 games and faces second-placed Uruguay on Friday before hosting Brazil. The team is under pressure to perform despite these key injuries as they aim for World Cup qualification. The situation presents significant challenges for coach Lionel Scaloni as the squad prepares for these critical matches.