Lionel Messi’s call-up by the Argentina national team despite dealing with a hamstring injury has generated much controversy. The 34-year-old has missed the last two PSG matches and was in Madrid seeking treatment.
Messi had therapy performed to regenerate the muscle tissue of the left hamstring. As a result, Messi finally traveled to Argentina to join the squad to prepare for their FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil.
There are reports that Messi will play, but someone close to the situation spoke to Mundo Deportivo and stated that the PSG forward is playing both matches.
“Leo doesn’t come for a walk; he comes to play,” a source close to the situation told the Spanish media outlet.
Sporting director Leonardo and some French football pundits have been critical of this decision to call up a player that isn’t at 100-percent. Nevertheless, should Messi play, PSG will be monitoring his minutes and hope that no further damage to the hamstring occurs during these two games.
“We do not agree with letting a player leave for international duty who, for us, is not in physical condition or is at the recovery stage,” Leonardo said. “It’s not logical, and these kinds of situations merit that we establish a rule with FIFA.”
However, in Argentina, there’s been a pushback by the media calling out the PSG club chief, so it’s the first drama between the club and the national team.
“Leonardo is defending an idea: he is responsible for the most money-intensive workforce on the planet, and he complains that we Argentines have the possibility of profiting more from Messi than the Parisians,” Olé said.
