This would be a huge leveller in the quarter-final tie
Doubt has been cast over Lionel Messi’s fitness after he suffered an injury to his pelvis during Argentina’s 3-1 loss to Venezuela on Friday night.
Messi’s return to the national side did not go to plan, as Venezuela raced into a two goal lead at the Wanda Metropolitano. Lautauro Martínez pulled one back for Argentina but it proved to be a mere consolation, as Josef Martínez scored Venezuela’s third from the spot with a nonchalant ‘skip kick’ – by far the best type of penalty.
God I love the skip penalty. Oh and here’s Josef Martinez scoring against Argentina. pic.twitter.com/IKNwZNtbR5
— Dylan Walsh (@dylanwalsh_) March 22, 2019
Things then went from bad to worse for Messi, as the Barcelona star picked up an injury that has ruled him out of Argentina’s second friendly of the international break, against Morocco on Tuesday, and could potentially keep him out of the first leg of Barça’s quarter-final tie against Manchester United.
In a statement, Barcelona confirmed Messi will miss Argentina’s next match against Morocco.
“Lionel Messi did not have the return to international action that he would have wanted, and an injury picked up on Friday night means he will miss Argentina’s game against Morocco on Tuesday,” the statement read.
“The FC Barcelona star captained his side and played the entire 90 minutes of the friendly against Venezuela at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, but they would lose 1-3.
“It was his first appearance since the 2018 World Cup quarter final loss against France, which was followed by a short-lived international retirement for Argentina’s all-time top goalscorer.”
The statement went on to confirm that injury will keep him out of the Morocco game.
“Whilst he would feature from start to finish, a problem with his pubis means that Messi will not play in the second friendly of the international break.”
Both Barça and Argentina agreed it would be best for Messi to return to Catalonia, as he faces a race against time to get fit for the first leg of the Champions League tie.
The first leg, at Old Trafford, will take place on April 10.
