Lionel Messi has been ruled out for a pair of upcoming Argentina friendlies in the United States due to injury.
Messi suffered what the Argentina Football Federation (AFA) called a “minor injury” in his right hamstring last Wednesday during Inter Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup match against Nashville SC.
After missing Inter Miami’s game against D.C. United over the weekend, Messi has now been ruled out for Friday’s game against El Salvador in Philadelphia and a March 26 match against Costa Rica in Los Angeles.
Messi has struggled with injury on multiple occasions so far in 2024, with a preseason muscle injury limiting him during Inter Miami’s tour of Asia.
After recovering in time for the MLS regular season, Messi returned to his usual outstanding form by tallying five goals and two assists across five matches in all competitions.
Though Messi won’t be part of Argentina’s squad for its March friendlies, fans in the U.S. will still have plenty more chances to see the legendary figure if he is healthy this summer.
Argentina will face Ecuador at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 9, before a June 14 match against Guatemala at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Those two friendlies will take place just before the 2024 Copa América, which could see Argentina play up to six more games in the United States.
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