Messi's Muscle Injury Threatens to Sideline Inter Miami's Superstar - How Long Will He Be Out?

Lionel Messi faces a period on the bench following a muscular setback, which will see Inter Miami play without their skipper in the coming weeks.

Supporters at Chase Stadium watched anxiously as Messi collapsed merely seven minutes into the Herons' Leagues Cup encounter against Necaxa. The South American star had an uncomfortable collision with a pair of defenders early in the contest and was compelled to leave the field after receiving on-field medical attention.

Inter Miami announced that Messi sustained a minor muscular problem in his right leg, with the attacker's comeback timeline depending on his "medical advancement and treatment response."

While the setback isn't anticipated to sideline Messi for an extended duration, he will still be absent for crucial fixtures involving Inter Miami.

Leagues Cup Fixtures Lionel Messi Will Be Absent For at Inter Miami

Javier Mascherano verified that Messi will be unavailable for at least one Leagues Cup encounter. The Inter Miami manager disclosed his skipper won't participate in the Herons' Phase One concluding match versus Pumas UNAM on Wednesday, Aug. 6.

If Inter Miami progresses to the elimination rounds, Messi would have a fortnight to heal from his injury before the tournament's quarterfinal matches begin on Tuesday, Aug. 19. Whether Messi will return in time to participate in the potential elimination contest remains uncertain.

In the event of a possible complication for Messi, he might also be unavailable for the Leagues Cup semifinals on Tuesday, Aug. 26, assuming Inter Miami reaches that stage of the competition.

Mascherano remains hopeful about Messi's swift recovery, stating: "It's a minor setback, within the unfortunate news, it's positive news. He typically recovers excellently from injuries and most importantly, usually does so rapidly."

MLS Fixtures Lionel Messi Will Be Absent For at Inter Miami

Mascherano and Inter Miami have not yet commented on Messi's availability for the Herons' forthcoming MLS encounters. With just one week between Messi's injury date and the team's meeting with Orlando City on Sunday, Aug. 10, the superstar's participation in that game appears doubtful.

The Eastern Conference team then faces LA Galaxy on Saturday, Aug. 16. Even if Messi is only out for a fortnight, he would still miss the chance to compete against the reigning MLS Cup titleholders.

Following that, the Herons travel to the nation's capital for a matchup with D.C. United on Saturday, Aug. 23. Should Inter Miami choose to be cautious with their star player and potentially preserve him for the advanced stages of the Leagues Cup, Messi might be rested for the MLS fixture, even if he has already recovered from his injury.