Victim of a muscle injury, Lionel Messi is out of Inter Miami’s next MLS match, this Saturday in Washington DC. New absence for the Argentinian number 10…
The 20,000 spectators at the DC United stadium will not have the opportunity to see Lionel Messi at work. After missing a first MLS match last week due to a calf injury, number 10 Inter Miami returned for the Champions Cup round of 16 second leg against Nashville, Wednesday. 3-1 victory and qualification for the quarters.
But Messi was replaced at the start of the second half, injured in the hamstrings (the muscles at the back of the thigh) of his right leg. Tata Martino, the coach of the Florida team, mentioned a small injury, but the Ballon d’Or record holder must therefore observe several days of rest and will miss the match in the capital of the United States this Saturday (7 p.m. French time, live on Apple TV, exclusive broadcaster of the North American championship).
Messi soon in selection
The 2022 world champion captain will perhaps return to training next week to prepare for a new away match for Inter Miami, in the lair of the New York Red Bulls, next Saturday. David Beckham’s club, now with Luis Suarez (in addition to Leo Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets), is leader of the Eastern Conference with two victories, a draw and a defeat.
Messi will then return to the Argentine selection for two friendly matches, against El Salvador and Costa Rica, on March 22 in Philadelphia and on March 26 in Los Angeles, three months before the Copa América. As a reminder, “La Pulga” should not be released for the football tournament of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (from July 24 to August 10), scheduled in the wake of the Copa América (from June 20 to July 14), despite the call from his friend Javier Mascherano, coach of the Argentine U23s.
