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Scary and worrying news coming out of Washington, D.C., where the Argentina national team is getting ready for friendlies. According to Argentine media, Lionel Messi has sustained an injury that caused him to leave the practice facility and rush to a hospital for additional testing.
Messi has had an injury-free season so far at Barcelona, and he was in top form for the last few weeks. He wasn't complaining about any contusions at Barça, sources say. So if he's indeed injured, it's not something that's been lingering for some time. It's recent and it happened today with the national team.
Damned international break. Let's hope it's nothing major. We'll continue to update this story as more information become available.
UPDATE 1: AFA, the Argentine Football Association, has provided an update via Twitter on Messi's status.
#GiraPorEEUU Comunicado de la Selección @Argentina sobre Lionel Messi. pic.twitter.com/VRGzO9sVJT
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) 24 março 2015
According to AFA, Messi was tested for a foot contusion he could have suffered against Real Madrid last Sunday, but those tests showed no signs of severe injury. Leo will continue to be treated and doing light work not to force the issue until he's fully recovered.
UPDATE 2: Barcelona has issued a statement regarding Messi's status, and it's all good news:
FC Barcelona’s medical staff in consultation with their counterparts at the Argentine Football Federation confirm that the tests carried out on Leo Messi whilst on international duty with the Argentine national side in Washington D.C. show that he has no injury to his right foot where he received a blow in his last league match with the blaugranes against Real Madrid.
The player will remain with Argentina to play in their upcoming friendly matches against El Salvador on 28 March and Ecuador on 31 March.
Source: FCBarcelona.com
