'Wooden leg' Argentina suffers injury, Messi frustrated

Worries are mounting for Lionel Messi's Argentina squad after a main forward sustained an unexpected injury only weeks ahead of the eagerly awaited match against Spain in the 2026 Finalissima.

The football world is counting down the days to the 2026 Finalissima, where Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal will face each other for the first time, as Argentina meets Spain on March 28 (Vietnam time) at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

However, Argentina is now confronted with a major concern after their forward Lautaro Martinez was forced off the field during the first leg of the Champions League playoff between Inter Milan and Bodo/Glimt.

The Argentine striker signaled for a substitution at the 60th minute after limping off the pitch. Following the match, Inter’s coach Cristian Chivu expressed his worry about the player's condition.

“We have lost Lautaro. He has a muscle injury. The recovery period will be quite long, but the exact duration is still unknown. I’m not a doctor, so I can’t predict the healing time. After medical examinations, we will understand the injury's severity,” Chivu stated.

Despite initially grim news, journalist Gaston Edul, who is close to the Argentina team, brought some hopeful updates for coach Lionel Scaloni. According to Edul, Martinez has a calf muscle tear and will likely be sidelined for only a few weeks, meaning he could still return in time for the final in Qatar.

This is one of the rare positive pieces of news for Argentina amid significant squad setbacks. Juan Foyth is definitely out of the Finalissima after suffering an Achilles tendon rupture while playing for Villarreal. Meanwhile, Giovani Lo Celso’s participation remains uncertain due to a moderate thigh muscle injury.

On the other side, Spain is also facing similar personnel challenges. They recently lost in-form striker Samu Omorodion after Porto confirmed the player suffered a sprained right knee with anterior cruciate ligament damage. Additionally, the European champions are concerned about Mikel Merino’s condition, who is currently sidelined following foot bone fracture surgery.

Nonetheless, coach Luis de la Fuente has received encouraging signs. Midfielder Pedri has recovered from a thigh injury that caused him to miss seven matches for Barcelona in 2026, and he has now resumed regular training with the team.

Moreover, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick mentioned in a press conference that Gavi might return in early March. The 21-year-old midfielder has only played two games this season due to arthroscopic surgery but now has a chance to compete for a spot in the Finalissima against Argentina.