Lionel Messi Sparks Fitness Concern Ahead Of World Cup After Early Exit In Inter Miami Thriller

Lionel Messi created concern among football fans worldwide after leaving Inter Miami CF’s final match before the FIFA World Cup break with visible discomfort.

The Argentine legend was substituted in the second half of Inter Miami’s dramatic 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Union after appearing to struggle physically during the match. Messi was seen holding the back of his leg moments after taking a free kick, immediately raising fears of a possible injury ahead of the World Cup.

Inter Miami Downplays Messi Injury Fears

Despite the worrying scenes, Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos insisted the decision to substitute Messi was purely precautionary.

According to the coach, the difficult weather conditions and heavy pitch played a major role in the star forward’s fatigue. Hoyos explained that the club did not want to risk any further strain with the FIFA World Cup approaching.

No official injury diagnosis was announced immediately after the match, although early indications suggested the issue was related to muscle fatigue rather than a serious injury.

Rainy Conditions Made Things Difficult

The second half of the match was played under heavy rain, making the surface slippery and physically demanding. Several players struggled to maintain footing throughout the game.

Messi looked less active after the weather worsened and was spotted touching his left hamstring during open play. Soon after, he was replaced and walked straight toward the dressing room tunnel.

Importantly for Argentina fans, Messi was able to walk on his own without support from medical staff.

Messi Still Central To Argentina’s World Cup Hopes

The 2026 FIFA World Cup could potentially be Messi’s final appearance at football’s biggest tournament, making his fitness one of the biggest talking points ahead of the competition.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has already included Messi in his preliminary World Cup squad. The defending champions will begin their campaign against Algeria on June 16.

Messi played a legendary role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar and remains the team’s most important player despite being in the later stage of his career.

Strong Performance Before Substitution

Before leaving the field, Messi still managed to influence the game with two assists as Inter Miami delivered an entertaining attacking performance. Germán Berterame scored twice in the high-scoring contest.

Major League Soccer will now pause for the FIFA World Cup, giving Messi valuable time to recover and prepare for international duty.

Fans around the world will now wait for further medical updates, hoping the football icon remains fully fit for another World Cup journey.