Messi's Road to Recovery: When Will Inter Miami's Magic Man Return to Action?
Lionel Messi netted his inaugural goal of 2026 during a weekend exhibition match, though the celebration was brief as he encountered his initial fitness concern of the year with the 2026 Major League Soccer campaign approaching rapidly.
Inter Miami managed a 2–2 stalemate against Ecuador's Barcelona SC, with Messi finding the net first and providing an assist for the second goal. However, concerns arose when the Argentine departed the field merely 12 minutes after halftime, and Miami ultimately allowed the tying goal in the final moments.
Miami's preparations for the MLS season kickoff continue in the coming days as Javier Mascherano's squad looks to retain their inaugural league championship.
However, those preparations suffered a major setback during the week when the Herons announced their iconic star sustained an injury during Saturday's exhibition, putting his participation in forthcoming matches in jeopardy.
What Injury Does Lionel Messi Have?
What Injury Does Lionel Messi Have?
There wasn't a clear instance during the Ecuador exhibition where observers could identify when Messi picked up an injury. Nevertheless, Miami issued a statement on Wednesday disclosing the 38-year-old experienced a "muscle strain in his left hamstring."
A comparable hamstring problem affected Messi last summer, sidelining him for four matches with the Herons across the Leagues Cup and MLS competitions.
Miami refrained from providing a definitive timeline for Messi's return to action, merely noting: "His progressive return to training will be determined by his clinical and functional development in the upcoming days."
External sources indicate that Messi's injury isn't particularly serious, though he still confronts a time crunch to be prepared for the season's commencement.
When Will Lionel Messi Return From Injury?
When Will Lionel Messi Return From Injury?
Messi's comeback to competition remains uncertain. Should he manage to resolve the recent hamstring problem fairly swiftly, he could potentially take the field for Miami's MLS season debut away at LAFC on Feb. 21.
The Herons had planned to play an exhibition in Puerto Rico on Friday, Feb. 13 to conclude their preseason schedule. Nevertheless, because of Messi's injury, the match was delayed by two weeks and is now set for Feb. 26.
With Messi personally expressing regret to Puerto Rican supporters for the scheduling disruption, it seems he'll be prepared in time to participate at the rescheduled date. Nevertheless, with just days between Miami and their encounter with LAFC, the team's priority will be ensuring Messi is fit before that matchup.
Should Messi be unavailable for the LAFC game and return in the exhibition against Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico, he could potentially make his official 2026 debut when Miami travel to Orlando City for the season's first Florida rivalry match on March 1.