Lionel Messi was not present on the training grounds for Inter Miami's upcoming match against New York City FC. The Argentine will miss the game to nurse a pre-existing hamstring injury.
Football reporters were present during Inter Miami's training session for the upcoming game, providing a brief team update as they prepare for their match against NYCFC on March 30. Messi was revealed to be inside the team's gym instead of outside with the team, and Drake Callender and Diego Gomez returned from their respective national team duties.
A reporter for the Argentina national team said that the club plans for Messi to return to action when the team plays against Monterrey on April 3 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal. Messi originally felt pain in his hamstring during the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Nashville, where they won 3-1.
Messi scored the second goal of the contest in the 23rd minute and provided an assist before eventually being pulled in the 50th minute. After the game, Miami manager Gerardo 'Tata' Martino said that his star player's injury would be dealt with weekly and carefully evaluated throughout the process. He identified the damage as a muscle injury, impacting his selection for some games.
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Due to the injury, Messi missed international friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica. Argentina won both games anyway, scoring three goals in each contest and keeping a clean sheet against El Salvador. Inter Miami is second in the MLS standings six games into the season, having earned three wins, a draw and two losses. Last Saturday, though, the team lost 4-0 without its star player against the New York Red Bulls.
Messi has played in three games with the club this season and has proven effective, scoring three goals and providing an assist. Inter Miami has received a scoring boost after signing Luis Suarez, who is currently leading the team with six goals this season.
Messi and Suarez scored two goals in a dominant 5-0 win over Orlando City in their third game of the season. Messi's former Barcelona teammate spoke about how much he enjoys spending the last years of his professional career alongside his good friend.
Inter Miami lost 4-0 to New York Red Bulls without Lionel Messi (Getty)"I am very happy after many years of playing together to share not only on the field, but also day to day with him," Suarez said. "It is very nice to be able to enjoy this last stage that we have left as soccer players and to enjoy it also as friends."
Inter Miami will play through 17 grueling league games until the Leagues Cup group state this summer, where the team will face Puebla. The club are the reigning League Cup champions; Messi's goal levelled the score against Nashville in the final before Inter Miami won in a penalty shootout.
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