BUENOS AIRES, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez has been ruled out of Argentina's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil with a hamstring tear, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on Wednesday.

Martinez scored the second goal in Inter Milan's 2-0 win at Atalanta in the Italian Serie A on Sunday before he was substituted in the 91st minute.

The AFA did not immediately name a replacement for the 27-year-old. News of his absence came two days after Albiceleste captain Lionel Messi withdrew from the squad with an adductor strain.

Argentina will meet Uruguay in Montevideo on Friday and Brazil in Buenos Aires next Tuesday.

Lionel Scaloni's men currently lead the 10-team South American zone qualifying standings with 25 points from 12 games, five points clear of second-placed Uruguay. Enditem

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