Devendra Kumar
Lionel Messi, Argentina’s star forward, will not be participating in the country’s upcoming international friendly matches due to a minor injury to his hamstring. The 36-year-old suffered the injury playing for Inter Miami in their Concacaf Champions Cup clash against Nashville, where he scored in the 23rd minute and was replaced shortly after the break. He did not feature in his team’s subsequent league match against DC United on Saturday.
According to a statement posted on Argentina’s official website, Messi will not be part of the squad for the friendlies in the United States, which are scheduled to take place this month. The team is set to face El Salvador on Saturday and Costa Rica on the following Wednesday. Messi’s absence from the squad is a significant blow to Argentina’s chances of success in the friendlies, given his elite level of skill and experience.
Messi’s injury is considered minor, but it is still unclear when he will be able to recover and return to action. In the meantime, Argentina’s coaches will have to find alternative solutions to fill the void left by Messi’s absence. The player’s injury has also sparked concern among fans and critics, who will be watching closely to see how the team performs without its talismanic forward.
Despite the setback, Argentina’s coaches expressed optimism about the team’s chances in the friendlies, citing the strength of the squad and the quality of the opposition. They also emphasized the importance of using the friendlies as an opportunity to test new players and strategies, ahead of the more competitive matches later in the year. With Messi sidelined, the pressure will be on the team’s other forwards to step up and deliver, but for now, it remains to be seen how Argentina will fare without their star player.
The team’s coaches are expected to rely on other players, such as Paulo Dybala and Lautaro Martinez, to fill the gap left by Messi’s absence. However, it is unknown whether they will be able to replicate Messi’s level of performance, as he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Only time will tell how Argentina will adapt to the loss of their star player and whether they will be able to make a successful transition despite the setback.