Substituted injured
Concern about the World Cup: Lionel Messi’s health update
May 25, 2026 – 11:33 p.mReading time: 1 min.
Shortly before the World Cup, Lionel Messi was forced off injured in an MLS game. Now details are probably known.
After the injury scare surrounding superstar Lionel Messi, Argentina’s national soccer team appears to have received the all-clear. A torn muscle fiber was ruled out after examinations in Miami and Messi only suffered a minor muscle injury to his left rear thigh, reported the Argentine newspaper “La Nación”.
The 38-year-old world champion should now reduce his workload and take a break for around ten days before he can train normally again. The aim is for the captain of the Argentine national football team to be fit for the World Cup in time. Other online portals in Argentina also reported accordingly.
Messi had to go out injured
Messi grabbed the back of his left thigh during the second half of his club Inter Miami’s 6:4 (4:4) win against Philadelphia Union and was then substituted. The images of the ailing world champion briefly caused concern in Argentina. Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos initially spoke of exhaustion after the game.
Messi had prepared two goals before being substituted. In the current MLS season, the offensive player has scored twelve goals in 14 games this season. Inter Miami has no further competitive games scheduled for the time being due to the North American league’s World Cup break. For Messi, the upcoming finals would be the sixth World Cup of his career.
