Messi receives the most disappointing news ahead of Finalissima 2026

Argentina’s squad is threatened with the absence of an essential midfielder in the forthcoming clash with Spain at the Finalissima 2026.

Alarm bells are ringing again for Lionel Messi’s Argentina as another player, included in coach Lionel Scaloni’s plans for the match Finalissima 2026 has been confirmed to have suffered an injury.

According to the official medical report from Real Betis, midfielder Giovani Lo Celso sustained a moderate muscle injury in the right thigh tendon area. He was injured during a Europa League match against PAOK, coming on as a substitute but only managing about 5 minutes on the pitch before having to leave.

In the statement, Real Betis mentioned that Lo Celso’s return to training with the team will fully depend on his recovery process. Although no specific timeline was given, such injuries typically require 6 to 8 weeks to heal, casting serious doubt on the Argentine midfielder’s participation in the FIFA international break in March.

For Lo Celso personally, this is a particularly unfortunate time as the 1996-born star is competing for a spot in Scaloni’s final squad for the 2026 World Cup, where many other names are already in contention. This also adds to Argentina’s setbacks, especially since Juan Foyth has suffered a serious injury and is definitely ruled out of the upcoming major tournament.

This is not the first time Lo Celso has faced bad luck just before important international tournaments. The former Tottenham player missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar despite being a near-certain choice in midfield, due to a hamstring tear just one month before the tournament started.

The current situation is somewhat more optimistic, as there are still over two months between the Finalissima and the start of the 2026 World Cup. Although no exact return date is set, it is very likely Lo Celso will miss the match against Spain but is expected to fully recover in the following weeks.

At club level, Lo Celso has had an inconsistent season with Real Betis, mostly due to recurring fitness issues. He has appeared in 25 matches across all competitions, including La Liga, Europa League, and the Copa del Rey, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists.

Despite frequent injuries, Lo Celso was still linked to transfer rumors in January, attracting interest from Inter Miami in MLS as well as his hometown club Rosario Central. However, coach Manuel Pellegrini quickly denied these reports, acknowledging Lo Celso’s injury history but affirming he remains an important part of Real Betis’s squad.