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On the final day of Major League Soccer action before the World Cup break, Argentina supporters were left anxious after watching Lionel Messi hobble off the pitch.
Inter Miami's star player, who contributed two assists in a thrilling 6–4 win against the Philadelphia Union, was substituted with 17 minutes left on the clock, clutching his leg as he made his way to the bench.
While the injury didn't appear to be overly serious, the timing was enough to send fans into a panic. Argentina kick off their World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 17, with just seven weeks standing between the incident and the World Cup final on July 19.
Here's everything we know so far about Messi's injury concern.
What Injury Does Lionel Messi Have?
Messi was spotted clutching the back of his thigh ahead of being taken off. Without any official statement, the indications point toward the 38-year-old experiencing some form of hamstring discomfort.
At the moment Messi left the field, the scoreline was level at 4–4, meaning the departure of the team's key attacking figure while a goal was still needed naturally raised questions about how serious the problem might be.
Medical assessments are expected shortly, but in the meantime, well-sourced journalist Gastón Edul was among the first to report that Messi's early exit was precautionary in nature rather than the result of a significant injury. Notably, the report states Messi "has no muscle injury."
Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos was also quick to ease concerns.
"As far as I know, we don't have a report on that yet, but he really was fatigued," Hoyos told reporters. "Yes, it was fatigue.
"He was tired, the pitch was heavy, and rather than take any chances, you always choose to play it safe."
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Will Lionel Messi Play at the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina's definitive World Cup squad has yet to be confirmed, and Messi himself has not officially declared his participation in the tournament, having previously stated he would assess his physical condition before committing to a final decision.
That said, all available signs point to Messi featuring in Argentina's final squad, and his decision to come off against Philadelphia in order to protect his fitness suggests a clear intention to be ready for this summer's competition.
Attention now shifts to whether Messi will be in good enough shape to take the field. Hamstring injuries can differ greatly in recovery time depending on their severity — a mild strain may resolve within days, while a serious tear could sideline a player for up to six months.
All indications suggest Messi's situation falls at the milder end of that scale, with his hamstring complaint unlikely to keep him out for any significant length of time.
That should provide some relief for supporters eagerly anticipating Messi's involvement at this summer's World Cup. Argentina have just over three weeks before their opening fixture and, based on current information, there is little reason to doubt Messi will be ready to play.