Lionel Messi doubtful for Argentina clashes with El Salvador, Costa Rica

FE Team | Published: March 17, 2024 21:27:15

Argentina captain Lionel Messi and England captain Harry Kane are doubt for upcoming international friendlies, report agencies
Messi has emerged as an injury doubt for the World Cup winners' upcoming friendlies with El Salvador and Costa Rica.
The 36-year-old remains as prolific as ever and has begun the 2024 season with five goals and two assists from five games for the Herons across MLS and CONCACAF Champions Cup matches.
Argentina will take on El Salvador on March 23, followed by a clash against Costa Rica on March 27.
During Inter Miami's 3-1 win vs Nashville, Messi was subbed off in the 49th-minute. After tests, it was confirmed that the 2022 World Cup sustained a muscular injury in the hamstring of his right leg. Before his substitution, the Argentine had already decided the Round of 16 second leg fixture with an assist and a goal.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni will also be casting a watchful eye over the situation as the World Cup holders prepare for their return to friendly duty.
The Biancocelesti play their first game of the year against El Salvador at Lincoln Financial Field on March 22, four days before tackling Costa Rica in an exhibition match in Los Angeles.
Messi was unsurprisingly summoned for Argentina duty at the start of the month, but a question mark is now hanging over the head of the 36-year-old's participation in March's fixtures.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is the all-time leading goalscorer and appearance-maker for his national team, contributing 106 goals in 180 appearances since making his senior debut in 2005, where he was sent off after just two minutes.
Messi scored in eight successive international matches from December 2022 to September 2023, but he failed to register in either of November's World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Uruguay or Brazil.
Meanwhile, Kane is a doubt for upcoming international friendlies against Brazil and Belgium after sustaining an ankle injury while playing for Bayern Munich on Saturday.
"He twisted his ankle in the goal net. He's cooled it with ice. We don't have a (final) diagnosis yet. We have to wait and see and hope that it remains a scare," Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said after the team's 5-2 win over Darmstadt in the Bundesliga.