Lionel Messi was unexpectedly absent from Argentina’s roster for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia in South America. The cause was revealed by the Argentine press following the game.

Argentina defeated Ecuador on September 8 thanks to a goal from Lionel Messi. There was no word after the game about Messi possibly being injured. However, the 36-year-old superstar was still missing when “Albiceleste” visited Bolivia’s stadium in the second round of South America’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Despite the absence of Messi, Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory in La Paz. Enzo Fernandez, Tagliafico, and Nicolas Gonzalez scored, and Di Maria provided two assists.

Following the game, a source from TyC Sports reported Messi’s absence. Messi was unable to play due to the height of Hernando Siles Stadium, which is known as the most dangerous stadium in the world with an altitude of 3,637 meters. Messi puked on this football field in 2015.

Messi, who is 36 years old and has won the World Cup, does not need to play in such games. Messi’s teammates, Mac Allister and Christian Romero, shared images of themselves breathing through an oxygen tank.

Messi once said of playing at Hernando Siles Stadium, “It’s scary to play here.” You must restore yourself after each acceleration. “The players experience headaches and dizziness.”

Messi’s teammates had difficulty breathing on the field, with some feeling dizzy and others wanting to vomit. As a result, Coach Scaloni’s decision to remove Messi fully and not register him to compete is to conserve his force.

The International Football Federation (FIFA) prohibited matches at Hernando Siles in 2007, which sparked protests. This stadium now hosts tournaments on a regular basis, including international tournaments such as the South American World Cup qualifications in 2026.