Tired Messi Exits MLS Game in Injury Scare Ahead of World Cup
Miami: Lionel Messi was in the midst of an injury scare after suddenly exiting Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer match against the Philadelphia Union just weeks before the start of the World Cup on Sunday.
Argentina’s superstar Messi entered the game in the 73rd minute, holding the back of his left leg and demanding to leave the game, in the rain-soaked match at the Nu Stadium in Miami.
The 38-year-old icon appeared to be walking normally as he walked towards the tunnel after leaving the game, which Miami won 6-4.
Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos said after the match that it was too early to determine whether Messi was injured and suggested that the Argentinian player’s substitution was a precautionary decision due to the field conditions.
When asked for details about Messi’s condition after the match, Hoyos said: “As far as I know, we don’t have a (medical) report on this yet, but we will give a report shortly.”
“In that sense he was really suffering from fatigue; it really was fatigue.
“It was tiring; the pitch was heavy and when in doubt the standard approach is always to take no chances.”
Messi’s Inter Miami teammate Mateo Silvetti could not shed light on his compatriot’s situation.
“I’m in the dark like everyone else,” Silvetti said. “We were all focused on the match at that moment. I didn’t know if it was an injury or just tired.
“We’re hoping it’s nothing serious. Considering his mentality and everything else, we’ll wish him the best.”
Messi has carefully managed his workload since joining Inter Miami in 2023, with team staff regularly exempting him from matches, especially during tight fixture periods.
He has spent a lot of time on the sidelines over the past few years due to hamstring problems, which caused him to miss parts of Miami’s preseason earlier this year.
But any significant injury to the eight-time Ballon D’Or winner would deal a major blow to Argentina’s hopes of defending their World Cup title in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The tournament will start on June 11 in Mexico City, with Argentina playing its opening match against Algeria in Kansas City five days later.
Inter Miami’s match on Sunday was MLS’s last before its break ahead of the World Cup.
Messi has not officially confirmed that he plans to play at the World Cup, but he is expected to return for a record sixth time in the finals.
Argentina’s squad will be named next week and the South American giants will soon travel to the United States for a pre-World Cup friendly against Honduras in Texas on June 6, followed by a game against Iceland on June 9.
