Lionel Messi may be facing another spell on the sidelines after picking up a minor muscle injury during Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Necaxa.
The Argentine was forced off in the 11th minute, cutting short what was expected to be another magic night in pink and black.
Messi collided with two Necaxa defenders near the penalty area early in the game. Though he tried to continue, the pain clearly said otherwise. Just a few minutes later, he signaled to come off and headed straight to the locker room.
When could Lionel Messi make his injury return?
Miami later confirmed the injury and shared that his return would depend on how he responds to treatment.
“Messi underwent medical tests to evaluate the extent of the muscle discomfort he experienced… The results confirmed a minor muscle injury in his right leg,” the club said in a statement.
“His medical clearance will depend on his clinical progress and response to treatment.”
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Right now, there is no set date for Messi’s return. Inter Miami have ruled him out for their next match against Pumas UNAM, and fans may need to wait a bit longer before seeing him back on the pitch.
Given his high workload this year — playing over 2,500 minutes for club and country — it’s no surprise that his body is feeling the strain.
Messi had already missed a few games earlier in the season due to “load management,” and it looks like this is another case of wear and tear catching up.
He also skipped the recent MLS All-Star game, adding to concerns about his fitness. Miami won the Leagues Cup last year with Messi leading the charge, but they’ll now need to find goals without their No. 10.
And as any football fan knows, replacing Messi is like trying to find Wi-Fi in a tunnel — good luck.
