Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica as a result of the hamstring injury he sustained in Inter Miami’s recent win over Nashville SC.
Messi was substituted during the second half of Miami’s 3-1 CONCACAF Champions Cup victory over Nashville after being affected by discomfort in his right hamstring.
The Barcelona great teed up Luis Suarez’s opener in that game before doubling Miami’s lead with a powerful 23rd-minute strike.
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He was then absent as Miami beat D.C. United 3-1 in MLS on Saturday, with coach Gerardo Martino saying his condition must be assessed “week by week”.
Martino did not say whether Messi would be able to feature for Argentina in their upcoming friendlies in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, saying Miami’s focus was on having him available for their Champions Cup clash with Monterrey on April 4.
#SelecciónMayor El capitán de @Argentina, Lionel Messi, no podrá estar en la convocatoria para los amistosos en #USA debido a una pequeña lesión en el isquiotibial de la pierna derecha sufrida en el partido de su equipo @InterMiamiCF ante Nashville SC. pic.twitter.com/1GjInbRyWJ
— Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) March 18, 2024
On Monday, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed Messi would not be able to take part in those matches, though his injury was described as “minor”.
Messi has three goals and one assist in three MLS outings in 2024, with Miami sitting top of the Eastern Conference with 10 points from their first five games of the season.
