Even though he hasn’t played in two weeks because of muscle pain, Lionel Messi was picked for Argentina’s next two World Cup qualifying games on Thursday.

Messi, who is 36 years old, has missed five of Inter Miami’s last six games. Also, the leader of Argentina didn’t play in their 3-0 win at Bolivia on September 12.

The last time Messi played was in his team’s game against Toronto on September 20. He was taken off at halftime because of muscle pain.

On October 12, Argentina will play Paraguay in Buenos Aires. Five days later, they will go to Peru.

Both Argentina and Brazil have won two of their two South American World Cup qualifying games, putting them in first place.

South America:

Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Franco Armani (River Plate), and Juan Musso (Atalanta) are all goalkeepers.

The following players are defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Germán Pezzella (Real Betis), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Lucas Martínez Quarta (Fiorentina), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Marco Pellegrino (AC Milan), Marcos Acuña (Sporting Lisbon), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), and Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven).

Leandro Paredes (Roma), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Alcaraz (Southampton), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Thiago Almada (Atletico United), and Bruno Zapelli (Athletico Paranaense) are the midfielders.

As forwards, Paulo Dybala plays for Roma, Lionel Messi for Inter Miami, Julián Alvarez for Manchester City, Lautaro Martínez for Inter Milan, Facundo Farias for Inter Miami, Lucas Beltrán for Fiorentina, Alejandro Garnacho for Manchester United, Nico González for Fiorentina, and Lucas Ocampos for Sevilla.