Messi to miss two friendlies in US over hamstring injury

Lionel Messi, the celebrated Argentine footballer, will miss Argentina's upcoming two friendly matches in the United States due to a hamstring injury.

Argentina will play its friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica this month.

The setback was confirmed by the Argentina Football Association on Monday. The 36-year-old forward was injured with a minor hamstring strain in his right leg last week, while he was playing for his Inter Miami club in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. He was substituted at half time.

The injury is minor and Messi is expected to be fit for Inter Miami's next CONCACAF Champions Cup matches. He later missed Inter Miami's subsequent MLS game.

"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 match against Nashville SC," the Argentine federation said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Due to the importance of the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League matches for Inter Miami, coach Gerardo Martino prioritised Messi's recovery. The decision hinted that Messi might miss Argentina's friendlies, which was later confirmed by the Argentinian Football Association.

"It is clear that with him there is an objective that he can play in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. We're not going to take any risks," Martino said.