Lionel Messi: Was he substituted due to injury or poor performance?

Lionel Messi set off the alarms both in Paris Saint-Germain and in the Argentine National Team. Two weeks before the double date of the South American Qualifiers heading to Qatar 2022, his departure from the Parisian team at halftime of the victory over Lille surprised and worried everyone.

The Argentine forward had been absent the day before training due to an ailment, although Mauricio Pochettino ratified him as a starter and put him in from the start in what ended up being a 2-1 comeback at the Parc des  Princes. But Leo didn't play more than 45 minutes.

Throughout the first part he was noted to be suffering from a discomfort in his left thigh and with a lower performance than usual. He was not at the pace that the team needed and that was noticeable on the court. In fact, he was found to be displeased with his work.

Ángel Di María, author of the goal for PSG's victory, was consulted after the game about the reason for Messi's departure and revealed that it was as a precaution. "It was because of what I already had before, that I had a discomfort, and surely to prevent it was better to go out", he explained, in statements to ESPN.

"His departure was agreed with the medical corps, as a precaution", admitted Mauricio Pochettino, in a talk with the same signal, confirmed that the 30 has a discomfort and assured that he replaced it "so that it does not pass to greater. Hopefully he can be available in the next matches".