Lionel Messi could miss two Argentina friendlies later this month due to his lingering right hamstring injury, according to a report Saturday from Argentine sports newspaper Diario Olé.
Messi was expected to join Argentina for matches against El Salvador in Philadelphia on March 22, and against Costa Rica in Los Angeles on March 26. The matches will serve as warmups for this summer’s Copa America 2024.
The report states Messi could be sidelined to prevent further injury with hopes he fully recovers for future matches both with Inter Miami and Argentina. It’s unclear whether Messi will stay in Miami or travel to be with his Argentine teammates for the two matches.
Argentina is the defending Copa America and World Cup champion behind Messi, 36, who could be playing in his last major international tournament this summer.
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said his goal is to have Messi prepared to help Inter Miami face Liga MX club Monterrey in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals on April 3 and April 10.
“We’ll continuously evaluate what he’s doing. The objective is for him to arrive to be able to play in the quarterfinals of Concacaf Champions Cup. We don’t want to take a risk,” Martino said after Messi did not play in Inter Miami’s 3-1 win over D.C. United on Saturday. It was Messi’s second missed match for Inter Miami in the 2024 MLS regular season.
Messi left in the 50th minute of Inter Miami’s Concacaf…
