Star soccer player, Lionel Messi, departs from the Leagues Cup tournament with a suspected leg injury.
Lionel Messi, the star forward for Inter Miami, was forced to exit Saturday's Leagues Cup match against Necaxa due to an apparent leg injury in the 11th minute. The injury, believed to be a minor muscle strain in his right leg, has left the club and its fans anxiously awaiting updates on his recovery.
Despite the setback, Messi has had an impressive first full MLS season. He is currently tied for the league lead with 18 goals and has provided 16 assists. In MLS play, he has been unstoppable, scoring 16 goals. However, his Leagues Cup performance has been less successful, as he has yet to find the back of the net.
Messi's injury comes at a crucial time for Inter Miami, as they are set to play the Leagues Cup group stage finale on August 6. If they advance, he might have up to two weeks to recover before the quarterfinals on August 19, though it is uncertain if he will be ready to play by then.
The injury does not appear to be severe, but Inter Miami will be cautious in managing Messi's return to full action. His absence was felt immediately, as just minutes after his exit, Telasco Segovia scored for Miami.
Messi's injury is not his first setback in MLS. He dealt with multiple issues in 2024, including an extended recovery from a torn leg muscle sustained while playing for Argentina during the 2024 Copa America final. His first two MLS seasons were also marred by significant absences due to injuries.
Despite these challenges, Messi has proven to be a valuable asset to Inter Miami. He led the team to the 2023 Leagues Cup title, playing in all seven matches. However, he missed almost half of the last 12 regular-season games due to minor ailments.
The injury also means that Messi will miss the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, resulting in a one-match suspension against FC Cincinnati a week prior. The team will now have to rely on other players to step up in his absence.
Miami's match against Necaxa ended in a 1-1 draw, with Tomas Badaloni scoring the equalizer for Necaxa in the 33rd minute. The team will now focus on recovering from this setback and preparing for their next match.
[1] Inter Miami CF confirms Messi suffered minor muscle injury
[2] Lionel Messi out of Leagues Cup match against Necaxa
[3] Messi could miss up to two weeks due to injury
[4] Messi's injury timeline uncertain
[1] Inter Miami CF confirms Messi suffered a minor muscle injury, raising concerns about his health-and-wellness and availability for upcoming sports events, particularly in the field of football.
[2] In a surprising turn of events, the Leagues Cup match against Necaxa had to proceed without Lionel Messi after he was forced to exit due to a medical-condition.
[3] Despite the setback, Messi's recovery timeline suggests that he could miss up to two weeks, which might affect his sports performance in the upcoming games.
[4] The exact injury timeline for Messi is currently uncertain, with the club and fans anxiously awaiting updates on his recovery from the science community.
