SUMMARY
- Lionel Messi, with his impressive performance, has led Inter Miami to the top of the table.
- However, he suffered an injury during the match against Nashville SC.
Despite turning 37 in a few months, Lionel Messi is showing no signs of stopping. Messi has managed to put in some impressive performances that have currently led to Inter Miami being at the top of the MLS table. However, while Messi continues to shine on the soccer field day in and day out, it appears as if age is finally taking a toll on him.
During Inter Miami’s recent match against Nashville SC, Lionel Messi was brought off the pitch due to problems with his hamstring. After missing Inter Miami’s MLS match against DC United, Messi will now miss Argentina’s friendly matches in the upcoming week. He has also been ruled out for Inter Miami’s clash against the New York Red Bulls on March 23.
🚨 OFFICIAL: Lionel Messi is OUT from Argentina National team games against El Salvador and Costa Rica.
🇦🇷 AFA: “The captain Lionel Messi, will not be able to be in the squad for the friendlies in USA due to a minor injury he suffered in his team’s match against Nashville SC.”… pic.twitter.com/aYShPCRkiw
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) March 18, 2024
Despite managing to elevate Inter Miami’s performance since his arrival in 2023, Messi‘s stint in the United States has been marred with occasional injuries. Moreover, a strange pattern can be noticed in the Inter Miami skipper’s injury. Over the last few months, Messi has been facing problems with a hamstring injury in his right leg. In addition to this, this has been the same problem that has been troubling him since the 2022 World Cup.
A look into Lionel Messi’s persisting hamstring injury
Since Argentina defeated Croatia 3-0 in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Lionel Messi has been reportedly struggling with a hamstring injury. During the World Cup, Messi was spotted frequently clutching and struggling with his hamstring. It was also reported that there was a possibility that Messi could have missed the World Cup final against France.
Nevertheless, the Argentine skipper decided to brave the injury and ultimately ended up winning the World Cup, scoring a brace in the final. However, even after more than a year has passed, Messi’s hamstring injury continues to stand in his way. Since the 2022 World Cup, Messi has missed 14 games for club and country due to injuries and rest.
Messi misses Argentina training
Argentina are holding their breath ahead of the World Cup final after Lionel Messi missed training on Thursday.The 35-year-old captain is suffering from a hamstring injury picked up during the 3-0 semi-final win against Croatia.#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/SwbbeqCvhz
— Edwin~Daniel (@Ssangody) December 16, 2022
However, nine of those absences have been caused due to his hamstring problem. Interestingly, the issue with the hamstring was also what caused Messi to depart early from Argentina‘s historic 1-0 World Cup qualifier win against Brazil last year. Although Inter Miami coach Tata Martino recently assured the fans that Messi’s injury wasn’t serious, perhaps the pattern of the injuries is proving to be a source of concern.
With Messi on the wrong side of his thirties, he has reached the end of the twilight of his career. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has previously talked about his retirement, hinting that he will have to hang up his boots after some time. While Messi’s retirement will indeed be a sad day for soccer fans all over the world, we can only hope that the 2022 World Cup winner continues to play as long as his body permits.
The three most serious injuries in Lionel Messi’s career
While Lionel Messi has now spent almost two decades as a professional soccer player, thankfully, he has never spent much time sidelined with injuries. Despite being roughly treated by his opposition defenders, Messi’s longevity is yet another aspect of the former FC Barcelona star’s magnificent career. However, let’s take a look at the three most serious injuries in Messi’s career (via Transfermarkt).
Interestingly, Messi’s most serious injuries came in the early part of his career. Messi’s first major injury of his professional soccer career came way back in 2006 when he tore his muscle bundle during a Champions League match against Chelsea. Messi ended up being sidelined for 74 days and missing 17 games. Unfortunately, Messi also missed FC Barcelona‘s Champions League final win against Arsenal that season.
A season later, Messi encountered yet another serious injury, this time a metatarsal fracture. It was one of the most severe injuries of the former PSG star’s career, as he was out of action for 84 days and missed as many as 19 games. However, Messi returned just in time for that season’s final league, El Clasico, where he ended up scoring a hat trick in a thrilling encounter that ended 3-3.
The third injury in this list came in 2013 when Messi again suffered a torn muscle bundle in his left leg. Statistically, it was one of the worst seasons in Messi’s career as his four-year consecutive Ballon d’Or winning run came to an end. The Argentine was out for 56 days and missed 11 games. It was also the season where Messi reportedly wanted to leave FC Barcelona but ultimately ended up staying after the late coach Tito Vilanova intervened.