Inter Miami boss Tata Martino has revealed that Lionel Messi was removed from their CONCACAF Champions Cup match Wednesday due to a leg injury.
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Inter Miami defeat Nashville SC 3-1Messi scores and assists in victoryHerons star sustains new leg injuryWHAT HAPPENED?
Speaking postgame after their 3-1 (5-3 aggregate) victory over Nashville SC, Martino shared that the Argentine is likely to be a doubt this weekend when the Herons take on D.C. United. Messi was subbed off in the 49th minute of the match, having already scored a goal and provided an assist in the first half of the game.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAdvertisementWHAT TATA MARTINO SAID
"He is overloaded on the right posterior (leg). We don't want to run a risk. We tried to see if he could go for a little longer, but it was bothering him. I imagine that for Saturday's game [against D.C. United] he is not going to be available."
Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The Miami Herald's Michelle Kaufman reports that the injury sustained is a hamstring strain. Ahead of two international friendlies with Argentina starting next week, the Herons talisman's status for both club and country is now seemingly up in the air.
He recently missed Inter Miami's shocking 3-2 loss to CF Montreal due to what Martino described as 'rest' for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, but many suspected it was due to a shin injury that had him listed as on the club's injury report just hours before the match.
DID YOU KNOW?
Last Fall, when Messi was sidelined with a "scar tissue flare-up", he missed four matches for Inter Miami. The Herons went winless in the six matches – across all competitions – that followed. In 2024, their one match without the Argentine is currently their only loss across all competitions.
