Messi Absent and Otamendi Expelled in Argentina’s Crucial Clash with Ecuador
Argentina’s road to the 2026 World Cup has taken an unexpected turn, and the spotlight is once again on two of its most emblematic figures. The national team had to face Ecuador in Quito, a setting already known for its challenging altitude, but this time it was done without its captain and greatest star, Lionel Messi. The absence was not accidental; it was a decision taken carefully between the player and coach Lionel Scaloni.
Messi, now 38 years old, had just come from playing an emotional match in Buenos Aires against Venezuela. But physical discomfort had been lingering. A minor muscle issue was being carried for weeks, nothing severe, but serious enough to weigh heavily when the demanding altitude of Quito was factored in. The choice was made: better to rest him than to risk a greater setback. As explained from his close circle, this was less about a crisis and more about preservation. Every minute of play now requires management, especially with Messi balancing his commitments at Inter Miami in the MLS, where he is expected to lead the club through a decisive phase of the season.
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For Argentina, the decision reflected trust in the group’s depth. Scaloni made it clear that the team has the tools to compete, even without Messi, and his absence was viewed as a chance for others to step up. Still, fans cannot help but read between the lines. Every precaution taken sparks speculation about his long-term future with the national team. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, each missed match reminds the football world that the twilight of Messi’s era may be approaching sooner than anyone wants to accept.
If Messi’s absence raised concern, Nicolás Otamendi’s night brought frustration. The veteran defender, who had even worn the captain’s armband in Messi’s absence, endured a bitter end to his Eliminatorias campaign. In the first half, a defensive lapse allowed Ecuador’s Enner Valencia to break free, and Otamendi’s desperate attempt to stop him ended in a foul just outside the box. The referee, Wilmar Roldán, had no doubts: a red card was shown.
For Otamendi, the moment carried extra weight. It was his very first expulsion in 128 appearances with Argentina, a stunning statistic considering his long and physical career. Unfortunately, FIFA regulations mean that this suspension will carry over, and unless an amnesty is granted, he will miss Argentina’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup. What should have been a dignified farewell to the qualifiers turned into a night remembered for the wrong reasons.
Between Messi’s careful rest and Otamendi’s untimely expulsion, Argentina’s trip to Ecuador became more than just another qualifier. It highlighted the challenges of balancing experience with the demands of modern football, the weight of expectations, and the reality that even legends cannot escape time. All eyes now turn to how this team will adapt in their absence—because every decision, every red card, and every rest day shapes the road to 2026.
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