Lionel Messi has muscle fatigue in his left hamstring and has not torn the muscle in a serious increase for Argentina and World Cup organisers.
Messi limped off clutching the again of his left leg throughout Inter Miami’s 6-4 win over Philadelphia on Sunday, resulting in issues that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s participation on the World Cup may very well be in danger.
However a Miami assertion provided excellent news and Messi must be obtainable for Argentina’s opener in opposition to Algeria on June 16.
The assertion learn: “Inter Miami CF’s captain needed to depart the sphere yesterday, Sunday, Could 24, in the course of the match in opposition to Philadelphia Union, resulting from bodily discomfort.
“After present process additional medical assessments this Monday, the preliminary prognosis signifies an overload related to muscle fatigue in his left hamstring.
“The timeline for his return to bodily exercise will depend upon his medical and practical progress.”
Argentina have two warm-up video games, in opposition to Honduras and Iceland, however Messi is not going to be risked if he isn’t 100% match.
What was the response after the sport?
Interim Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos mentioned Messi was “fatigued” on a pitch made heavy by rain.
“Moderately than doubt, you at all times say to not take the chance,” added Hoyos, who noticed Luis Suarez hit a hat-trick, German Berterame rating twice and Rodrigo De Paul internet one other on a scoresheet dominated by South American forwards.
“I attempted to see how he was doing after the sport however didn’t see him within the locker room,” mentioned team-mate Mateo Silvetti. “I don’t know if he was with the medical employees or went dwelling.
“For the time being he went off, we had been all concentrating on the sport, so I wasn’t serious about if it was for an harm or as a result of he was drained.”
Argentina’s World Cup schedule
Messi’s problem occurred three weeks earlier than Argentina’s opening match of the event in opposition to Algeria.
Ought to they win their group, Argentina’s last-32 match will likely be in Miami on July 3.
Argentina’s preliminary World Cup schedule appears to be like like this. Kick-off instances with an asterisk denote the day prior to this.
| Date | Opponents | BST | ET | PT | Venue |
| Tue, June 16 | Algeria | 02:00* | 21:00 | 18:00 | Kansas |
| Mon, June 22 | Austria | 18:00 | 13:00 | 10:00 | Arlington |
| Sat, June 27 | Uruguay | 03:00* | 22:00 | 19:00 | Arlington |
Lionel Messi stats, harm historical past
Two-time MLS Participant of the Yr Messi has produced a outstanding complete of 12 targets and eight assists in 14 league matches this season.
With 116 targets in 198 appearances for Argentina, Messi has 60 extra targets than the next-highest scorer for his nation, Gabriel Batistuta.
Miami and Argentina have missed Messi for a complete of 30 matches by harm since September 2023, most notably when he was dominated out for 2 months with an ankle harm suffered throughout Argentina’s win over Colombia within the 2024 Copa America closing.
Who might Argentina substitute Lionel Messi with?
Whereas many regard Messi’s talents as irreplaceable, the excellent news for Argentina supervisor Lionel Scaloni is that he has potent attacking choices if the skipper is unavailable.
Scaloni had but to call his squad for the finals when Miami performed their closing sport earlier than the World Cup, however Julian Alvarez is more likely to be a starter, having contributed 20 targets and 9 assists in 49 appearances for Atletico Madrid this season, discovering the online 10 instances and organising 4 targets throughout 15 video games within the Champions League.
Lautaro Martinez scored 22 targets in 41 video games for Inter and the likes of Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and former Atleti schemer De Paul provide ample inventive provide behind the ahead line.
Argentina did, nevertheless, draw a clean of their final aggressive match with out Messi, shedding 1-0 in Ecuador in World Cup qualifying in September.
