BUENOS AIRES, March 19, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Lionel Messi has been ruled out of
Argentina's upcoming friendlies in the United States due to a hamstring
injury, the Argentina Football Association confirmed on Monday.

The Inter Miami superstar was due to line up for the world champions in
friendlies against El Salvador in Philadelphia on Friday before facing Costa
Rica in Los Angeles on March 26.

However, the 36-year-old Argentine captain has not recovered after tweaking a
hamstring during Miami's 3-1 victory over Nashville in the CONCACAF Champions
Cup last week.

Messi, who was substituted just after half-time in the win over Nashville,
missed Miami's win over D.C. United in Washington on Saturday.

"The captain of Argentina, Lionel Messi, will not be able to be in the squad
for the friendlies in USA due to a minor injury to the hamstring of his right
leg suffered in his team's match against Nashville SC," the Argentine
federation said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Miami coach Gerardo Martino had hinted after his team's win over Washington
on Saturday that Messi might miss the March internationals, saying the team
wanted to ensure he was fit for next month's CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-
finals.

"It is clear that with him there is an objective that he can play in the
quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. We're not going to take any
risks," Martino said.