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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, causing immediate concern in Argentina and the global football community less than three weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup.
According to 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 the need for 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 discomfort, touched the back of his leg, and ended up requesting a substitution. The images are already making the rounds globally, and concern is growing in Argentina, at Inter Miami, and also with an eye on the 2026 World Cup," wrote the user AkanniCFC on X.
Medical studies 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.
Inter Miami's coach, Guillermo Hoyos, attempted to calm tensions during the post-match press conference. "Honestly, he's fatigued," he stated, attributing Messi's departure 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 minor 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, held 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, making its debut on June 16 against Algeria. The final list of 26 players had to be submitted to FIFA before May 30, turning this injury into a scheduling emergency for coach Lionel Scaloni.
With an estimated recovery period of ten days, Messi would arrive just in time—or with a very tight margin—for his World Cup debut, leaving all of Argentina on edge. This Sunday’s match against Philadelphia Union was also the last for Inter Miami before the World Cup break.
The situation worsens because the Argentine national team had already lost Valentín Carboni to a knee ligament rupture and Juan Foyth to an Achilles tendon rupture, both ruled out of the tournament.
This episode brings back the memory of the 2024 Copa América, where Messi finished the final injured and in tears, even though Argentina became champions 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, at 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 considered to be 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 entire world awaiting updates on its captain's medical condition.
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