Inter Miami Reveals Messi's Injury Status Following Triumphant Leagues Cup Victory

Inter Miami released a statement regarding Lionel Messi's condition on Sunday, following the Argentine's departure from Saturday evening's Leagues Cup fixture against Necaxa due to injury

The Florida-based team announced that the 38-year-old sustained a minor muscular problem in his right leg, with his availability for future matches depending on "his clinical development and treatment response."

Messi was forced to exit the game in the 11th minute after a collision with two Necaxa defenders near their penalty box in the seventh minute. While he initially continued playing, he was soon substituted by Federico Redondo and went directly to the dressing room.

Miami managed a 2–2 draw in regular time before prevailing on penalties to earn two out of three available points, maintaining their position in the 2025 Leagues Cup competition.

Throughout 2025, Messi has been heavily utilized by the Herons, with manager Javier Mascherano deploying him for more than 85 minutes in 27 matches. During this period, he has netted 24 goals and provided 10 assists across all tournaments.

Nevertheless, he was absent from the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, with Miami co-owner Jorge Mas and Mascherano attributing his exclusion to exhaustion, along with concerns about a subsequent one-game ban.

"Whenever Messi features, he plays the full 90 minutes, and if you observe him playing fewer minutes, he's hurt. That's Lionel's approach here and it will remain so," Mas stated previously. "Managing his workload is Lionel Messi's decision. Common sense suggests we'd prefer him to rest during comfortable victories, but that won't occur."

Messi has experienced injury setbacks before, including during 2025. In March, he was unavailable for Argentina's World Cup qualifying matches due to adductor and thigh muscle problems, and he faced several issues in 2024, including a prolonged spell out after suffering a leg muscle tear in the Copa América final.

Miami will continue their Leagues Cup campaign, a competition Messi helped them claim in 2023, on Wednesday versus Pumas UNAM, before returning to MLS play on Aug. 10 against state rivals Orlando City SC.