The Argentina Football Association announced on Monday that Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s upcoming friendlies in the United States due to a hamstring injury.
Initially expected to feature in friendlies against El Salvador in Philadelphia on Friday and Costa Rica in Los Angeles on March 26, the Inter Miami superstar’s participation has been ruled out.
Messi sustained the injury during Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Nashville, where he was substituted just after half-time. Despite missing Miami’s subsequent match against D.C. United, Messi has not fully recovered.
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“The captain of Argentina, Lionel Messi, will not be able to be in the squad for the friendlies in the USA due to a minor injury to the hamstring of his right leg suffered in his team’s match against Nashville SC,” stated the Argentine federation.
Miami coach Gerardo Martino hinted at Messi’s potential absence from the March internationals following the win over Washington, emphasizing the team’s priority to ensure his fitness for the upcoming CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-finals.
“It is clear that with him there is an objective that he can play in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. We’re not going to take any risks,” Martino explained.
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