An opponent kicked Lionel Messi’s famed left leg in the calf region, twisting his left ankle during Inter Miami’s 2-2 Concacaf Champions Cup encounter against Nashville SC on Thursday night.When Messi challenged a ball from Nashville’s Lukas MacNaughton, whose right leg came up and struck Messi’s following his kick, the injury occurred in the 77th minute.
It was a terrifying sight to see as Messi lay on the pitch being attended to by trainers while writhing in agony for several minutes.Following the episode, Messi was spotted grinning and seemed to be in good health. He talked to a Nashville player while strolling down the sidelines and re-entered the pitch to finish the game. Earlier in the game, Messi also received some care from a trainer who gave him a massage on the back of his right leg above the knee.
“Leo finished the game. He’s tired. He’s fatigued. That’s why he was getting massages. But he is fine,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said after the game, in which Messi scored in the 52nd minute, and Luis Suárez scored a header in extra time.
The second leg of Inter Miami’s Champions Cup Round-of-16 clash against Nashville SC is scheduled for Wednesday following the Montreal game.
On March 16, Inter Miami also had an away game against D.C. United.Messi will be involved in seven games in twenty-one days after Argentina chose him to participate in two Copa America warmups on March 22 against El Salvador in Philadelphia and March 26 against Costa Rica in Los Angeles.
Messi may be forced to miss Inter Miami’s games against the New York Red Bulls on the road on March 23 and New York City FC at home on March 30 due to his obligations in Argentina.
