Lionel Messi has been ruled out of Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil due to a left adductor injury. The injury was sustained during Inter Miami‘s MLS match against Atlanta United.
This news comes as a significant blow to Argentina‘s hopes of maintaining their strong lead in the World Cup qualifying standings. The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate, given the importance of the upcoming matches.
Messi’s injury occurred just days after returning from a three-game absence due to a muscle overload. He played in the Concacaf Champions League match against Cavalier SC, scoring a goal, and in the MLS match against Atlanta United. However, he suffered the adductor injury during that match while attempting a powerful shot on goal, visibly showing pain after the attempt. Despite continuing the game, he limited his efforts, noticeably avoiding set pieces.
Confirmation of Messi’s injury and extent of the problem
Following the match against Atlanta United, Messi underwent medical examinations. Inter Miami CF confirmed a low-grade adductor muscle injury in a statement which noted that Messi’s recovery timeline would depend on his clinical response to treatment. The seriousness of the injury will depend on Messi’s response to treatment. His absence is a considerable setback for both Inter Miami and Argentina.
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Lionel Messi reveals why he will miss Argentina’s World Cup Qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil
Messi expressed his disappointment at missing the crucial matches against Uruguay and Brazil in an Instagram post, wishing his teammates well. He stated that he was forced to withdraw due to an injury that requires time to hea. Inter Miami will not play this weekend due to the FIFA international break, which offers Messi valuable time to recover.
However, his participation in upcoming matches against Philadelphia Union and LAFC is doubtful, with a return targeted for the second leg of the Concacaf Champions League quarter-final. The club will prioritize his recovery and prevent further risk of re-injury. The team will need to adapt its style of play in the absence of the star player.
