Lionel Messi could miss March Argentina friendlies because of hamstring injury

Lionel Messi will miss two Argentina friendlies later this month due to his lingering right hamstring injury, the Argentine national team announced on Monday.

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 captain of @Argentina, Lionel Messi, will not be able to be in the squad for the friendlies in #USA due to a minor injury to the hamstring of his right leg suffered in his team’s @InterMiamiCF match against Nashville SC,” the team said on social media.

A Saturday report from Argentine sports newspaper Diario Olé 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 Champions Cup round-of-16 win over Nashville SC Wednesday with the injury. He also favored his hamstring during the first of two matches against Nashville on March 7.

Martino also mentioned Messi's hamstring injury is different from the groin injury that kept him out of an Inter Miami preseason match in Hong Kong in February.

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Messi is expected to miss Inter Miami’s road game against the New York Red Bulls on March 23. The game falls during a FIFA international window, during which MLS still schedules games – unlike most top-flight professional leagues around the world.

Messi could also be limited or miss Inter Miami’s home game against New York City FC on March 30 for rest purposes.

Inter Miami also has two MLS regular-season games scheduled following the first and second legs of the Champions Cup quarterfinals.

Messi’s availability could potentially be limited when Inter Miami hosts Colorado on April 6, and visits Sporting Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, on April 13.

Messi has scored five goals with two assists in his five matches this season with Inter Miami. He has 16 goals with seven assists in 19 total appearances dating back to his debut last July.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Messi hamstring injury: Here's the latest before Argentina friendlies