Inter Miami coach Tata Martino announced on Tuesday that Lionel Messi, who sustained an ankle injury in the Copa America final, will miss the team’s next two matches.
The 37-year-old Messi collapsed and left the game in the 64th minute during Argentina’s match against Colombia at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Martino said Messi would undergo further tests to determine the extent of the injury and whether a longer absence would be necessary.
“He has a sprained ankle and the injury remains so tests are required and we will have to wait for the results,” Martino said. “We have had the opportunity to see other images. Tests will be carried out to determine the seriousness of the situation. We are always informed through Walter Insauralde, who is also the national team’s exercise physiologist, and he is very cautious about making a final diagnosis before the results are available.”
Fox cameras captured Messi’s ankle looking visibly swollen late in the second half as he watched the rest of the game from the bench.
Inter Miami is scheduled to play Toronto FC on Wednesday and Chicago Fire at home on Saturday before the MLS All-Star break, after which the team begins the defence of its League Cup title against Mexico’s Puebla on July 27.
It remains to be seen whether Messi will play in next week’s MLS All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio. He was one of 30 players selected for the squad that will face off against some of the biggest teams in LIGA MX.