Lionel Messi will not join the Argentine national team for two World Cup qualifying matches in the next week after suffering an injury during Inter Miami’s 2-1 win against Atlanta United on Sunday night.
Messi appeared to feel some discomfort in his left adductor muscle while missing a shot on goal in the 64th minute in the Atlanta match.
Messi had an MRI after the game which confirmed the injury, according to several reports. Inter Miami has not yet responded to a request for confirmation on Messi’s injury from USA TODAY Sports.
Messi scored in the 20th minute to draw Inter Miami level at 1, before Fafa Picault scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute in the match.
It was Messi’s second match in the last week as he returned from early-season injury fatigue.
Messi returned to action off the bench, and scored a goal last Thursday as Inter Miami ousted Cavalier FC during the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup round-of-16 series in Jamaica.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano believed Messi initially avoided injury after missing the club’s 4-1 win against the Houston Dynamo on March 2, the first leg against Cavalier on March 6, and against Charlotte FC on March 9.
Messi predominately played in three matches during a six-day stretch from Feb. 19-25, and eight matches in a 40-day span from Jan. 18 to Feb. 14, which included five preseason matches to start the year.
Inter Miami’s next match will be at home against Philadelphia Union on March 29.
