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

Los Angeles has missed five of their last six games without Messi, who is 36 years old. Also, Argentina’s captain didn’t play in their 3-0 win over Bolivia on September 12.

Messi last played on September 20, when his team played Toronto. He was taken out of the game at halftime because his muscles hurt.

Brazil and Paraguay will play in Buenos Aires on October 12. They will go to Peru in five days.

They are both in first place because they have won both of their South American World Cup qualifying games.

In South America:

Emiliano Martínez plays goalkeeper for Aston Villa, Franco Armani plays goalkeeper for River Plate, and Juan Musso plays goalkeeper for Atalanta.

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

The midfielders are 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).

Paulo Dybala plays forward for Roma. While Julián Alvarez plays 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 played their first professional games.