Frank Christian
Lionel Messi, now 37 years old, continues to demonstrate his exceptional abilities as he navigates his career twilight. Despite his stellar performances with Inter Miami in MLS, concerns around his match fitness have emerged, prompting caution from the club regarding his involvement in games.
Recent incidents, like his early exit due to “fatigue” in a match against Toronto FC and subsequent absence from the U.S. Open Cup final, are raising questions about Messi’s durability, especially in the demanding MLS schedule.
As Inter Miami maneuvers through the 2024 MLS season, Messi’s fitness is under increased scrutiny, especially after a muscle issue sidelined him from games against Al Nassr and a preseason encounter in Hong Kong.
Lionel Messi’s Injury History
Throughout his illustrious career, Lionel Messi has faced various injuries, despite initially grappling with hamstring problems at Barcelona. However, since 2016, he has notably evaded substantial injuries, maintaining his fitness for both club and country consistently.
Lionel Messi’s Major Injuries
This list highlights significant injuries that have caused Lionel Messi to miss several games over the course of his career. The data excludes illnesses, lack of match fitness, or rest periods with reference from Transfermarkt.com.
- Hamstring injury: March 13, 2024 — TBD (Inter Miami, 2 matches — Argentina, 2 matches)
- Adductor injury*: Feb. 1, 2024 — Feb. 7, 2024 (Inter Miami, 2 preseason matches)
- Scar tissue flare-up: Sep. 21, 2023 — Oct. 6, 2023 (Inter Miami, 4 matches)
*Player-confirmed
Lionel Messi’s Matches Missed by Club
This table summarizes the games missed by Lionel Messi due to injuries while playing for various clubs. The data, sourced from Transfermarkt.com, excludes matches impacted by illness, lack of fitness, or friendly encounters.
Is Lionel Messi playing at full capacity?
Update on Messi’s Injury and Absence
Lionel Messi sustained an injury during a match against Nashville SC in CONCACAF Champions Cup play on March 13. As a result, he was unable to participate in Argentina’s friendly games against Costa Rica and El Salvador during the international break. This injury setback stemmed from recurring hamstring problems that have troubled Messi throughout his career.
Following his injury, Messi was absent in Inter Miami’s victory over D.C. United on March 16 and was subsequently unavailable for international duty the following week. His absence was also noted in Inter Miami’s recent 4-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls, a match he would have missed regardless due to his international commitments.
As Inter Miami gears up to face NYCFC on Saturday, March 30, Messi’s fitness has become a focal point once again. Despite not participating in training with the Inter Miami squad and confirmation from the club that he will not be featuring in the upcoming MLS fixture against NYCFC, his readiness for the subsequent crucial CONCACAF Champions Cup encounter against Monterrey is now uncertain.
Coach Javier Morales disclosed on Friday that Messi will be sidelined for the NYCFC match but aims to have him back for the showdown with Monterrey in the middle of the week. Morales mentioned to the media, as cited by ESPN, “Leo is working closely with the team’s physiotherapists. He will be absent tomorrow, as we are striving to facilitate his return for the home game next Wednesday against Monterrey.”
