Is Lionel Messi Injured? Inter Miami Captain Spotted Massaging His Thigh Ahead of NY Red Bulls Clash

Just when it looked like Inter Miami was back on track, the team could be in for a rude awakening. Miami has been on a dream run in the MLS thanks to sensation performances from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Tata Martino‘s side is currently top of the Eastern Conference standings with 21 points from 11 games. A lot of credit for this goes to Messi, with the Argentine carrying the team on his shoulders.

However, it seems like his knees may buckle under the pressure with the player seen massaging his hamstring during the team’s latest training session. Messi had a slow start to the season with a muscular injury, and another injury at this stage could be a massive blow to the team. Facing New York Red Bulls without their talisman could put the team on the back foot. The last outing between these two top teams saw the Red Bulls put Inter Miami to the sword, bagging a 4-0 win at home.

Notably, Lionel Messi was absent from the squad during the fixture. Fans will hope that the latest reports from the training ground are nothing but a scare. Inter Miami’s success at the moment has been very reliant on La Pulga and missing him on such a crucial occasion could suck all the momentum the team has built so far this season.

Tata Martino is not worried about Lionel Messi’s fitness

While Inter Miami fans might be concerned after the latest update on Lionel Messi, head coach Tata Martino seems to have a calm head on his shoulders. The Herons head coach talked with the media during the team’s training session last night. Commenting on La Pulga’s fitness, Martino claimed the Argentine is doing well and is making the most of the recovery time between games.

The Miami head coach stated, “Messi is free to move and play in any position on the pitch. He is the best footballer in the world and a great goalscorer. We can’t limit his movement. Now we are not playing much and he has time to recover from the physical demands.”

Inter Miami will play six fixtures in May starting with their home game against the NY Red Bulls. With an average of five days gap between all their games, the team has plenty of time to ensure their players maintain their fitness. It will be interesting to see how Tata Martino and his management handle Lionel Messi’s workload, with the Argentine set to be absent for the month of June owing to international commitments.