Messi sits out Argentina’s pre-World Cup friendly due to hamstring strain
Messi’s recovery depends on his ‘clinical and functional progress’, Argentina officials say before title defence. Lionel Messi sat out Argentina’s friendly match against Honduras as
Messi’s recovery depends on his ‘clinical and functional progress’, Argentina officials say before title defence. Lionel Messi sat out Argentina’s friendly match against Honduras as he continues to manage muscle fatigue and a mild strain in his left hamstring in advance of the upcoming World Cup. Messi, who turns 39 in three weeks, was active after warming up with his teammates at Kyle Field on the campus of Texas A&M before the game on Saturday night. He stayed on the bench, though, watching from the sidelines as Argentina won 2-0. The team has said Messi’s recovery time will depend on “his clinical and functional progress.” Messi was diagnosed with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring by his Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami after he made an abrupt exit from Miami’s 6-4 victory over Philadelphia in the 73rd minute late last month. Argentina next play Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday in a final World Cup tune-up before resuming their training in Kansas City, where the Albiceleste will begin their World Cup title defence against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium on June 16. During workouts in Kansas City on Wednesday, Messi came to the practice field after the rest of the team and did some conditioning work off to the side.
Messi, who is widely expected to retire from international football after the tournament, holds the record for most World Cup matches (26) and needs four more goals to surpass Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record of 16. Big guns win friendlies days before World Cup Meanwhile, multi-champions Brazil and Germany also won their preparatory games, although by small margins, with former champions England and hopeful Portugal securing victories, as well. The busy day of friendlies saw some of the biggest players on display, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Vini Jr and Mohamed Salah playing. Five-time champions Brazil beat Egypt 2-1 in Cleveland, with Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes scoring early from inside the box and Lyon forward Endrick adding in the second half after an assist from Barcelona’s Raphinha. Zico scored for Egypt, while Salah played the first half and seemed to be in good form. There was some drama, with Brazil and AS Roma right-back Wesley leaving the field in tears after what appeared to be a serious muscle injury in the left leg, which might take him out of the World Cup. Teams can change players up to one day before their first games. Harry Kane’s first-half header earned England a 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa, while there were also victories for Scotland and Belgium as teams fine-tune before the tournament’s kickoff next week.
The BriefWire