Lionel Messi not starting for Argentina in WC qualifier - ESPN

Lionel Messi was not in Argentina's starting XI for their World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Thursday, but he was included in the squad as a substitute.

Lionel Scaloni's Argentina is 2-0 in CONMEBOL qualifying thus far, having beaten Ecuador 1-0 and Bolívia 3-0 in September, but Messi did not play against Bolivia after picking up leg injury in their first match.

That injury forced Messi to miss a chunk of games for club side Inter Miami CF as the team missed the MLS Cup playoffs after a 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

The Argentine superstar's participation in Thursday's qualifier had been in doubt in the run-up to the game, with Scaloni saying on Wednesday the decision whether or not to play would be left entirely up to Messi.

Messi led Miami to the club's first trophy with a win in the inaugural Leagues Cup competition between MLS and Liga MX sides in August, but his team came up short in the final of the U.S. Open Cup — a game Messi missed due to his injury — and also fell short of reaching the MLS postseason down the stretch.