BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Lionel Messi will not play in Argentina’s two friendlies in the United States this month due to a right leg muscle injury, the Argentine Football Association said.
The captain was injured last week while playing for his Inter Miami club in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
In a statement posted on their official X page, Argentina confirmed that the forward would not be in the squad after sustaining a ‘minor’ injury to his hamstring.
The 36-year-old Messi will miss Argentina vs. El Salvador on Friday in Philadelphia and a friendly against Costa Rica four days later in Los Angeles, AFA said in a statement.
Both games are warm-ups for Argentina for the Copa America in June-July, which will also be in the US.
Argentina had already lost striker Paulo Dybala and midfielder Exequiel Palacios to injuries.
The 36-year-old scored in the 23rd minute of his side’s 3-1 victory over their MLS rivals Thursday, but was replaced five minutes after the break and was not in the squad for their subsequent league meeting against DC United Saturday.
“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 Inter Miami CF match against Nashville SC,” the Argentina statement said.
Messi is the latest absence for Lionel Scaloni’s side following injuries to Roma forward Paulo Dybala, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Exequiel Palacios and Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi.
Messi’s absence didn’t affect Inter Miami at the weekend; however, as Luis Suarez inspired them to a 3-1 comeback win over DC United.
The Uruguayan scored the go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute and added another in the 85th minute.
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said after the game that Messi’s injury would be ‘dealt with week by week,’ and that the 36-year-old eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has a goal of playing in the upcoming CONCACAF quarterfinals.
Suarez did not start on Saturday but was subbed on in the 62nd minute.
It took him only 10 minutes to fire them ahead, scoring with a left-footed shot from close range to the bottom left corner.
He then struck again in the 85th minute when he left-footed a shot from the center of the box to the high center of the goal.
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