Messi hamstring injury under review will miss friendlies

Argentina captain Lionel Messi is undergoing further evaluation for a hamstring injury sustained just weeks before the national team begins its defense of the FIFA World Cup title. The 38-year-old forward was substituted in the 73rd minute of Inter Miami’s 6-4 Major League Soccer victory over the Philadelphia Union on Sunday after appearing to clutch the back of his left leg.

Medical tests conducted by his club on Monday diagnosed the issue as "an overload associated with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring." Inter Miami stated that the timeline for Messi’s return to training would depend on his clinical progress, offering no specific recovery period. He walked off the field unassisted after contributing two assists in the first half of a match played under heavy rain in the second half.

Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, addressed the situation in a televised interview, describing the initial medical reports as positive. "The first news is not so bad," Scaloni said. He added that the team is awaiting the results of further tests to confirm the diagnosis. Scaloni acknowledged, however, that Messi will not join the national team’s preparations in perfect condition. "We all...