VIDEO: Lionel Messi avoids horrific injury after reckless studs-up challenge from Lukas MacNaughton in Inter Miami’s thrilling CONCACAF Champions Cup draw with Nashville

Lionel Messi was fortunate to avoid serious injury after being caught by a reckless studs-up challenge during Inter Miami’s draw with Nashville.

WHAT HAPPENED?
The incident in question occurred in the 77th minute of a thrilling CONCACAF Champions Cup clash in Tennessee. The Herons trailed that contest by two goals shortly after half-time, but battled back to level matters deep into stoppage-time.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Messi hauled Inter Miami back into the game when producing a sublime finish seven minutes into the second-half, before Luis Suarez restored parity in the 95th minute. There is now all to play for in the last-16 encounter heading into a return date at Chase Stadium.

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DID YOU KNOW?
Messi should be able to figure in that contest, with the Argentine walking away from a high challenge against Nashville that could have left him nursing a lower leg problem. Lukas MacNaughton followed through when clearing the ball midway through the second half, with his studs clattering into Messi’s shin.
WHAT NEXT?
That coming together occurred 10 minutes after an unsightly melee on the edge of the Nashville box that saw Messi argue with a number of rivals before the likes of Suarez and Sergio Busquets stepped in. The second leg of an intriguing tie will take place in Florida next Wednesday.

WHAT HAPPENED?