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On Sunday night, Lionel Messi left the field in the 73rd minute of the match between Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union—which ended 6-4 in favor of Miami—after feeling discomfort in the back of his left thigh, which caused immediate concern in Argentina and the global football community less than three weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup.
According to a report from Reuters, the Argentine star grabbed the affected area after taking a free kick in the 70th minute, requested to be substituted, and walked on his own to the locker room without needing additional assistance. He was replaced by M. Silvetti, as confirmed by the club's official account.
The images of the moment spread around the world immediately. "This is the exact moment in the 73rd minute when Messi felt the discomfort, touched the back of his leg, and ended up asking to be substituted. The images are already going viral, and concern is growing in Argentina, at Inter Miami, and also with thoughts of the 2026 World Cup," wrote the user AkanniCFC on X.
Medical examinations conducted in Miami ruled out a muscle tear, according to La Nación, from Argentina. The preliminary diagnosis indicates a mild muscle injury in the left thigh, with an estimated recovery time of approximately ten days.
The coach of Inter Miami, Guillermo Hoyos, tried to calm things down at the post-match press conference. "Honestly, he is fatigued," he stated, attributing Messi's exit to accumulated exhaustion and the risk of overexertion on a heavy field.
Hoyos also acknowledged that the medical team had not yet completed their report at the time of speaking with the press.
However, medical sources cited by La Nación confirmed that there is indeed a small muscle injury and that the player will be closely monitored in the coming days.
The moment could not be more delicate. The 2026 World Cup, taking place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, kicks off on June 11.
Argentina, the reigning world champion, is in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, debuting on June 16 against Algeria. The final list of 26 players had to be submitted to FIFA before May 30, which makes this injury a scheduling emergency for coach Lionel Scaloni.
Con una recuperación estimada de diez días, Messi llegaría justo -o con margen mínimo- al debut mundialista, lo que mantiene en vilo a toda Argentina. El partido de este domingo ante Philadelphia Union era, además, el último de Inter Miami antes del parón mundialista.
The situation worsens because the Argentine national team had already lost Valentín Carboni to a knee ligament tear and Juan Foyth to an Achilles tendon rupture, both ruled out of the tournament.
This episode revives the memory of the 2024 Copa América, where Messi ended the final injured and in tears, although Argentina was crowned champion 1-0 against Colombia with a goal from Lautaro Martínez in the 112th minute. That injury, also in his left thigh, kept him out for approximately two months.
Messi, 38 years old, has a contract with Inter Miami until 2028 and earns between 70 and 80 million dollars annually. The 2026 World Cup is widely regarded as his last World Cup, making every match and every physical discomfort a matter of historical significance for world football.
Argentina will make its debut on June 16 against Algeria, with the whole world awaiting the medical report on its captain.
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