Argentina captain and global football icon Lionel Messi has sparked fresh concerns ahead of the upcoming World Cup after a brief injury scare during Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer match on Sunday.
The 38-year-old requested to be substituted in the 73rd minute of the game against Philadelphia Union after appearing to clutch the back of his left leg. Although he walked off without visible distress and headed straight down the tunnel, the incident immediately raised questions about his fitness.
Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos later suggested the substitution was largely precautionary, pointing to heavy pitch conditions caused by wet weather in Miami and signs of fatigue rather than a serious injury. He added that no official medical report had yet confirmed any significant issue, stressing that the decision was made to avoid unnecessary risk.
Messi, who joined Inter Miami in 2023, has been carefully managed due to workload concerns and occasional hamstring issues, with the club often limiting his minutes to preserve his long-term fitness.
Despite the scare, he is widely expected to feature for Argentina at the upcoming World Cup, which begins on June 11 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The defending champions are preparing to name their final squad next week, with their opening match scheduled against Algeria on June 16.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has not yet formally confirmed his participation in what could be a record-equalling sixth World Cup appearance, but expectations remain high that he will lead Argentina’s title defence once again.
