Home Football A Step back for Inter Miami: Messi’s Hamstring Injury Can Make Him Out Of the Clash with D.C. United

A Step back for Inter Miami: Messi’s Hamstring Injury Can Make Him Out Of the Clash with D.C. United

Football — 03/14/2024

Superstar Lionel Messi of Inter Miami is expected to miss the team’s next game due to a leg ιnjury.

Shortly into the second half of Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Nashville, Messi left the game. According to coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, the 36-year-old was having pаin in his right hamstring. As a safety measure, he was taken out of the game.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi races ahead of Nashville SC midfielder Anibal Godoy during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi races ahead of Nashville SC midfielder Anibal Godoy during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Martino added, “He is overloaded in the right posterior,” via a translator. “We wish to avoid taking a chance. We wаnted to get him to stop playing the game because we were trying to see if he could continue, but it was troubling him.”

Messi left the game in the fiftyth minute, having already scored and assisted.

With the victory and a 5-3 aggregate goal edge in the total-goals series, Inter Miami moved on to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals.

As a further precaution, Martino stated that Messi will probably be rested for Inter Miami’s MLS encounter against D.C. United on Saturday.

Messi was rested in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Montreal, having played every minute of the season up to that point.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi is tripped by the Nashville SC defense during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi is tripped by the Nashville SC defense during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi dribbles past Nashville SC forward Jacob Shaffelburg during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi dribbles past Nashville SC forward Jacob Shaffelburg during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla

He sustained an ιnjury late in last Thursday’s first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 in Nashville. Defensor Lukas MacNaughton of Nashville trod on Messi’s calf late in regulation, sending him down. Messi writhed in agony on the field as a trainer checked on him, but he continued to play.

Due to a shin ailment, he was considered questionable going into Sunday’s match against Montreal.

According to Martino’s statement on Wednesday, Messi will take tests after which the squad will assess him.

Currently, Inter Miami is having a busy March with seven games, four of which have taken place in the last ten days. Messi is anticipated to play in two Copa America warm-up matches on March 22 and 26 with the Argentina national side.