Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has delivered a worrying fitness update after Argentina’s latest win at this summer’s Copa America against Chile.
The 37-year-old attacker was again named in the starting XI as the reigning FIFA World Cup champions booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa America after Lautaro Martinez’s sole goal for Argentina was enough to beat Chile.
Hitting the post and causing problems for the opposition, it was another good performance from Messi, who completed the entire match and will now likely be rested in Argentina’s final group stage match with their final eight status achieved.
Yet Messi after the match issued a worrying injury update.
Messi reveals ‘discomfort’ whilst playing for Argentina vs Chile
Speaking to the press after the match, Messi revealed that he was feeling some discomfort in his hamstring at the start of the match, though the problem was seemingly not bad enough for the Inter Miami star to come off.
Messi said after the game: “I felt some discomfort in my right hamstring at the beginning of the game. It was tight. It wasn’t as loose as it should’ve been. But I was able to finish the game. We’ll see how it goes.”
Whilst Messi’s injury record has been better this year, the 37-year-old is still struggling with the occasional fitness issue, something the Copa America is not helping given how intense these games naturally are.
Indeed, with Argentina already through, though, there’s a more than likely chance that Messi will be rested for the final group stage game against Peru, where the Inter Miami attacker will be fully refreshed for the quarter-finals.
Inter Miami will hope Messi returns from the Copa America injury-free
Messi’s fitness has been a major talking point the second the attacker joined Inter Miami last summer, and the Herons will be hoping the forward returns to Florida later this summer in one piece.
Whilst Tata Martino’s side are coping better than expected without Messi, the Argentine is still one of the best attackers in the world and a player who is a real difference-maker when a magical moment of quality is needed.
And after this update from the great man himself, Inter Miami will hope to see Messi return later this summer fully fit, and ideally a Copa America winner for only the second time in his career.