Inter Miami reveals the nature of their Argentine star Lionel Messi's injury

Inter Miami revealed the nature of Argentine star Lionel Messi's injury during the Philadelphia Union match in the American Soccer League.

Messi left the pitch in the 73rd minute, after grabbing his left leg muscle, at the "No Stadium", before heading straight to the dressing rooms, knowing that Inter Miami continued the match and achieved a thrilling 6-4 victory.

In an official statement, Miami said that Messi's medical tests showed a strain in the muscles behind his thigh, noting that the timeline for his return to physical activity depends on how well his condition progresses medically.

This comes a few weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup, during which Messi seeks to defend the title with his country.

Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, Messi has been keen to manage his fitness carefully, as the technical staff deliberately gives him regular breaks, especially during crowded matches, in light of his previous suffering from back muscle problems that kept him out of several matches in recent years.

The injury remains a major concern for Argentina, which aspires to retain its world title at the 2026 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and its competitions start on June 11.

Coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to announce the "Tango" list next week, after which the team will head to the United States for two friendly matches, the first against Honduras in Texas on June 6, and then against Iceland in Alabama three days later, in preparation for the World Cup.