Messi out of Argentina and an MLS executive just exploded | OneFootball

Lionel Messi has been ruled out of the March international break. The injury that goes beyond the field, fueling controversy over a longstanding problem of soccer, the impact of artificial turf on players' performance and health. The Argentine superstar's absence from Argentina's matches versus Uruguay and Brazil has fueled an argument that has been simmering for years in MLS. And Inter Miami chief business officer Xavier Asensi just poured more fuel into the fire.

Messi out, controversy in

The number 10 played and scored in Inter Miami’s win over Atlanta United but left the pitch with muscle discomfort. Soon after, news broke, he wouldn’t be available for Argentina. A tough blow for fans and an open door for criticism.

Asensi, in the moment, took to social media to lament the artificial turf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. His complaint? There is no place for this kind of surface at the highest level of soccer. There was one part of his post that jumped out, the invoking of the FIFA Club World Cup, where, he noted, Miami will play on natural grass, though."

But let's take a step backward. Given the recent injury history of Messi, the most probable reason is a recurrence of his chronic muscle problems. Not even the player pointed a finger at Atlanta's artificial turf, opting instead to bemoan missing the national team matches in a more diplomatic way.

Is artificial turf the villain?

MLS has had a love-hate relationship with artificial surfaces for years. Some of soccer's greatest stars have publicly denounced them. Thierry Henry refused to play on them, Zlatan Ibrahimović made his displeasure known in no uncertain terms, and even Didier Drogba, for all his legendary credentials, was beset by turf-related injuries during his MLS career.

The comparison with the European leagues is obvious. There, natural grass is the standard. Here, there are many teams that share stadiums with American soccer, and artificial turf cuts down on maintenance costs while allowing for year-round use. A sensible economic argument.

For years, since artificial turf started being used in stadiums, the risk of injury has been controversial. There is no medical consensus, however, on whether artificial turf leads to more injuries than natural grass.

Gustavo Arliani, an orthopedist and Newon's medical director, spoke with UOL about the issue, pointing out the controversy within sports medicine.

One of the points to make is that artificial turf has evolved over time. We now have fourth-generation technology on these pitches. There have been some studies completed comparing the game on natural and artificial grass, and there is no scientific evidence of a higher injury rate on either surface type.

So, does MLS care? With the massive investments made on getting the world stars like Messi into the league, the answer had better be yes. The last thing MLS wants is to have its biggest star on the sidelines.

What this means for Messi and the league

Messi missing matches is a problem for Argentina, certainly. But it's an even bigger problem for MLS. The Argentine superstar is the league's top attraction, drawing in millions of viewers, selling out stadiums, and driving sponsorship deals. Every game he plays is an event. Every game he doesn't play is an opportunity lost.

This injury can't be laid directly at the doorstep of artificial turf, but it does start a conversation MLS won't be able to dodge forever.

In the meantime, Inter Miami and Argentina fans can only hope for a quick recovery. Because let's be real, without Messi on the field, the show just isn't the same.