Inter Miami manager Tata Martino has revealed what the next steps will be for Lionel Messi after picking up an injury during the Copa America final.
The 37-year-old attacker twisted his ankle on the turf as Argentina retained their South American title against Colombia, with the game marred by controversy as crowd trouble delayed kick-off by over an hour.
With the nature of Messi’s injury also raising questions about if the United States will be ready in time to host an even as big as the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the night was one to forget, even with Argentina winning the Copa America.
And Inter Miami manager Martino has now shared what will happen to Messi after his injury.
Messi to undergo tests on ankle injury after Inter Miami return
Speaking to the press after training this morning, the Inter Miami manager revealed that tests will be done on Messi to determine how severe the injury is, with current reports suggesting that the forward will at least miss MLS All-Star week.
Martino said on Messi’s injury: “You’ve seen the images of the ankle, I’ve had the opportunity to see others. Studies will be done and the severity of the injury will be determined soon. I don’t want to express myself how bad it is, the injury is there. We will have the studies and wait for the results.”
Given the state of Messi’s ankle after the game, there’s a real chance that the Inter Miami captain will miss a good few weeks of action, with the Herons having two games this week against Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire.
And with Inter Miami currently awaiting results on how bad Messi’s injury actually is, the Herons would be wise to plan for their next MLS fixtures without the Argentine in mind, a plan that might have already been in place.
Messi could realistically not return to action until August
Messi’s fitness has been a big talking point for the majority of the year, with the 37-year-old attacker’s age really starting to show despite some moments of absolute magic from the Argentine.
And given how unusual Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule is, there’s a real chance that the Herons could make the decision to give Messi the rest of the month off to focus on getting fit and recovering after the Copa America.
Indeed, Inter Miami need Messi fit and firing for their huge Supporters’ Shield clash against FC Cincinnati at the end of August, and giving the forward as much time off as possible could be wise in the long-term.