Lionel Messi’s Injury Update

Inter Miami reported on Monday that Lionel Messi is dealing with a muscle strain in his left hamstring. This news comes after a concerning incident in the 73rd minute of Sunday’s match, which left Argentine soccer fans anxious.

What’s puzzling is the lack of clarity regarding Messi’s recovery, especially with the World Cup approaching. The team’s statement indicated that after further medical evaluations, the initial finding pointed to muscle fatigue in the left hamstring. They added that his return to training will depend on how he progresses clinically and functionally.

Interestingly, no details were provided on whether this injury might hinder Messi’s participation in the World Cup. After Miami’s 6-4 victory over Philadelphia, head coach Guillermo Hoyos didn’t shed much light on the situation either.

He mentioned, “As of now, no one has reported anything specific, but what I can say is he seemed really worn out. Just fatigue. The field was heavy. Rather than speculate, I always prefer to avoid taking unnecessary risks.”

As for Messi, he hasn’t confirmed his participation in the World Cup yet. Argentina still has a deadline of June 1 to finalize its squad. They’re scheduled to play friendlies against Honduras on June 6 and June 9 in Texas and Alabama, respectively.

This World Cup could mark Messi’s sixth and perhaps his final appearance in the tournament. He previously led Argentina to a win in 2022 and earned the Golden Ball for being the best player, an accolade he also received in 2014.

Argentina’s first match of the World Cup is set for June 16, where they’ll face Algeria. In his last game with Inter Miami, Messi exited in the 73rd minute, visibly grabbing at the top of his left thigh and signaling for a substitution. He made his way to the locker room but managed to walk unaided.