Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s international friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica in the United States due to a hamstring injury.
Messi was taken off in the 51st minute of Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup victory against Nashville on Thursday, with manager Tata Martino telling the media that his removal was due to a physical issue with his right leg.
He subsequently missed Miami’s clash against D.C. United on Saturday and the Argentina Football Association (AFA) have confirmed he will not be able to be part of the squad for March’s friendlies.
Speaking after the victory against Nashville, Martino said: “I imagine that he won’t be available for Saturday’s game. They will surely take (imaging) and we will see how he evolves.”
Argentina face El Salvador at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on March 23, followed by a clash against Costa Rica at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum four days later.
The world champions had been scheduled to play their March friendlies in China, but these were cancelled after Messi failed to appear in an Inter Miami friendly against the Hong Kong XI.
He was ruled out of the match in Hong Kong with an adductor injury, before playing 30 minutes against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo three days later, which was deemed a “deliberate and calculated snub” by the Hong Kong government.
The 36-year-old has featured in five matches across all competitions for Miami this season, scoring five and assisting two.
March’s friendlies are part of Argentina’s Copa America preparations, which begins on June 20.
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