Lionel Messi injury update: PSG star replaced at half-time, Champions League status uncertain | News Today

With their club beaten 1-0 at home against Lille, that wasn’t exactly the change Paris Saint-Germain supporters expected to see at halftime: superstar Lionel Messi is out, along with fellow Argentinian Mauro Icardi taking his place.

Messi had a bad first half playing the role of “false nine” down the center of the front row. He gave the ball away and was often swarmed by defenders as Lille obstructed midfield. He struggled to create with his back to goal, sending a ball to his compatriot Angel Di Maria in the only case he was entitled to a brief rush of running to the Lille defense. He finished with two shots off target and lost the ball seven times.

But the replacement had nothing to do with his performance and everything to do with an injury. L’Equipe reported during the match that Messi had a muscle problem, and PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino later explained that the move was preventive and taken in consultation with the team’s medics at half-time. Pochettino did not disclose the nature of the injury, but a video clip from the match showed Messi grabbing the back of his left leg:

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Will Lionel Messi play in the Champions League?

When asked if Messi would be able to recover in time to face German side RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, Pochettino said he was hopeful. But he didn’t really sound convincing in his response in English during a post-match interview with Canal + in which he repeated “hope” three times, and once more in French to avoid confusion:

A translated version of his response on Messi’s status in a separate interview with Prime Video Sports France said: “We have to wait. We were with the medics at half-time and that was a precaution. He couldn’t continue. We hope that’s not a big deal. “

Messi, 34, was uncertain entering the game after missing Thursday’s training due to muscle discomfort. But he was still inserted in the starting lineup against Lille, occupying a place that would have gone to Kylian Mbappe had he not been ruled out with an ear infection. Mbappe was in a suite at Parc des Princes to watch the game, which PSG came in from behind to win 2-1.

MORE: How PSG came back from behind to beat Lille champions

Teammate Angel Di Maria, who scored the goal in the last game and also recorded an assist in Messi’s absence, reportedly told Prime Sports France after the game that “it’s the same pain [Messi] had since before the game. I think it’s nothing serious. Only a precaution. “

Messi’s season with PSG so far

This is not the first time Messi has had to leave a Ligue 1 game due to injury.

He was controversially substituted in the last leg of a game against Olympique de Lyon, which shows that he did not appreciate being taken off the field by Pochettino. But days later, an MRI revealed a bone bruise on his left knee that forced him to miss the club’s next championship game.

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Messi has missed six of 11 Ligue 1 games for various reasons since signing with the club on August 10. The game against Lille was Messi’s fifth appearance in Ligue 1 and he has yet to score a league goal. It certainly does not go unnoticed. Here are some perspectives on his drought in Opta Ligue 1:

But when it comes to the UEFA Champions League, Messi didn’t miss a single minute of play, scoring three goals and helping PSG reach the top of Group A with a 2-0-1 record which places the club in front of the English Prime Minister in title. Champions of the League Manchester City. It remains to be seen whether his Champions League streak will continue on Wednesday.