Reasons for Lionel Messi's absence from Argentina's matches against Costa Rica and El Salvador

The captain of Lionel Scaloni's team, who won the 2022 World Cup, will not play during the international break. Lionel Messi, a striker for Inter Miami, will not participate in the March friendly against El Salvador and Costa Rica, according to confirmation from the Argentina Football Association (AFA).Injury to Lionel Messi The 36-year-old was forced out in the 50th minute of the MLS team's CONCACAF Champions Cup last-16 second-leg match against Nashville on March 14 due to a hamstring injury. During the team's 3-1 victory, he had scored and assisted in another.“He has an overload there in the right (leg), and then there was no need to take any risks,” Martino said. “We tried to see if he could hold on a little longer, but it was bothering him. So we preferred that he came out of the game. I imagine that he won’t be available for Saturday’s game.”