A collective sigh of relief swept across Argentina when Lionel Messi was substituted from his final Inter Miami match before the summer World Cup, exhibiting a concerned expression. The 38-year-old forward was seen touching the back of his thigh and was removed as a precautionary measure, as reported by Diario AS.
At the time of his substitution, Inter Miami was tied 4-4 with Philadelphia Union with 20 minutes left, suggesting Messi would not have come off unless there was a genuine issue. Although Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul scored in the closing ten minutes to secure a win, the primary focus remained on Messi’s potential injury.
However, the initial news emerging from Argentina offers a positive outlook for Messi and the Albiceleste. According to Gastón Edul, Messi requested the substitution as a precaution due to tightness in his hamstring. While there is no diagnosed injury, Messi opted to avoid any further risks on the field, leading to his early exit. This development should alleviate concerns among Argentina’s supporters.
Messi has been somewhat reserved about his participation in the World Cup over the past year, not definitively committing to playing. However, as time has progressed and without any significant injuries, the expectation is that Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, will include their captain in the squad. It remains uncertain whether he will be a starter in what is widely anticipated to be his final tournament appearance.
If selected, Messi, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, would set a record by appearing in their sixth World Cup. Messi has started the Major League Soccer season strongly, recording 13 goals and 7 assists in 16 appearances so far this term.
