‘Complete horsecrap!’ - Lionel Messi injury saga branded ‘embarrassing’ as Inter Miami are called out by former USMNT star over lack of updates

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner finds himself back on the sidelines after picking up an unfortunate knock when on Copa America duty with Argentina. He left the final of that competition in tears, before eventually getting his hands on trophy No.45 in a record-breaking career.

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Messi is nursing ankle damage, with a protective boot being donned at present, and no timescale has been put on his recovery. He has been ruled out of the MLS All-Star Game and is expected to miss Inter Miami’s defence of their Leagues Cup crown.

The lack of transparency regarding his fitness has, however, led ex-United States international Herculez Gomez to tell Futbol Americas: “It is complete horsecrap that they won’t give you an outline on what’s exactly going on and how long it will be. Other teams have to give you that. Inter Miami staying tight-lipped and not saying anything, that to me is embarrassing for MLS. We’ve always heard things and seen things from MLS from the beginning, the LA Galaxy got away with these things, LAFC got away with those things, Toronto here, Seattle there, but when it comes to Inter Miami, you’ve not only proven to get away with it, you look the other away, you publicly look the other way.”

The Herons, who are co-owned by Manchester United legend David Beckham, are reluctant to take any risks on Messi’s fitness. They are prepared to offer him an extended break from action, with the hope being that he will then be ready to lead a push for MLS Cup glory in 2024.