Why Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s games against El Salvador and Costa Rica

The Argentina Football Association (AFA) have confirmed that Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi will play no part in March’s friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica.

The 36-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in the MLS side’s CONCACAF Champions Cup last-16 second-leg fixture against Nashville on March 14, forcing him off in the 50th minute, having scored and set up another in his team's 3-1 win.

Speaking after the Herons’ 5-3 aggregate success in the competition, Gerardo Martino disclosed the nature of the 2022 World Cup winner’s issue.

“He has an overload there in the right (leg), and then there was no need to take any risks,” Martino said. “We tried to see if he could hold on a little longer, but it was bothering him. So we preferred that he came out of the game. I imagine that he won’t be available for Saturday’s game.”

As predicted by Martino, Messi was not risked for Inter Miami’s next MLS game against DC United, with his teammates claiming a 3-1 away success.

The AFA revealed the absence of their captain for this month’s friendly games in the United States against El Salvador on March 22 and Costa Rica, to be played four days later.

“The captain of Argentina, Lionel Messi, will not be able to be in the squad for the friendlies in the USA due to a minor injury to the hamstring of his right leg suffered in his team's Inter Miami's match against Nashville SC,” said the post on X (formerly Twitter).

Both fixtures are tune-up matches for Argentina’s Copa America campaign beginning in June, with the defending champions facing Chile in their tournament opener on June 26.