After hurting his right ankle during Argentina’s Copa America final victory, Lionel Messi will miss Inter Miami’s next two Major League Soccer games, Miami coach Gerardo Martino announced on Tuesday.
In the 64th minute of a 1-0 victory over Colombia, the 37-year-old Argentine legend went down. Cameras saw him limping off the field with a massively swollen ankle.
Messi will be absent from Inter Miami’s home games against the Chicago Fire on Saturday and Toronto FC on Wednesday.
“There will be further testing to determine the severity of the situation,” Martino said. “He has to have more tests and wait for the results.”
Messi, in an Instagram posting, was thankful for messages of concern and support he received after Sunday’s match.
“I want is to thank everyone for the messages and greetings. I’m fine, thank God, and I hope I can soon be on the field again enjoying what I like to do most,” Messi wrote.
Inter Miami has played 23 games and has 14 victories, five ties, and 47 points overall. Cincinnati, which defeated Miami 6-1 on July 6, is one point ahead of Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference and MLS.
Next week, Inter Miami will take against competitors from the Mexican and MLS leagues in the Leagues Cup.
