Argentina's Lionel Messi stand at the end of a qualifying soccer match against Brazil for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Bicentenario stadium in San Juan, Argentina on Nov 16, 2021. The game ended in a 0-0 tie. (GUSTAVO GARELLO / AP)

SAO PAULO - Argentina have left Lionel Messi out of their squad for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia as the Paris St Germain forward continues his recovery from COVID-19 infection.

The twice World Cup winners and current Copa America champions Lionel Messi have qualified for the finals in Qatar and sit second in the 10-team South American group

The twice World Cup winners and current Copa America champions have qualified for the finals in Qatar and sit second in the 10-team South American group.

The 34-year-old Messi was omitted from Argentina’s 27-man squad after not playing for PSG since Dec 22 against FC Lorient in French Ligue 1.

Messi spent the festive period in Argentina before testing positive for COVID-19 and trained separately from his team mates on his return to Paris.

READ MORE: COVID-19: PSG's Messi, three others test positive

PSG face Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League with the first leg on Feb 15.

Argentina are away to Chile on Jan 27 and host Colombia on Feb 1.