Fort Lauderdale, FL – Lionel Messi’s night ended abruptly after just 11 minutes as the Inter Miami star limped off with a hamstring injury during Wednesday’s Leagues Cup penalty shootout victory over Club Necaxa.
The Moment of Concern
The Argentine icon went down clutching his right leg after contact with Necaxa defenders Raúl Sánchez and Alexis Peña during an attacking run. Visibly frustrated, Messi slammed the Chase Stadium turf before attempting to continue play. After several minutes of discomfort, the 36-year-old made his way directly to the locker room, replaced by Federico Redondo.
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Post-Match Assessment
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano provided a cautious update post-game: “Leo felt discomfort in his hamstring. We’ll know more tomorrow. It might not be serious as he wasn’t in severe pain, but there’s definitely something there.”
Injury History Resurfaces
This latest setback adds to Messi’s recurring leg issues:
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Multiple hamstring problems throughout his career
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Left adductor injury earlier this year
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Missed Argentina World Cup qualifiers in March
2025 Workload Context
Before Wednesday’s match, Messi had already logged:
✓ 30 appearances across all competitions
✓ 18 MLS goals and 9 assists
✓ Concacaf Champions Cup and Club World Cup matches
What’s Next
Medical evaluations Thursday will determine the severity and potential recovery timeline. With Inter Miami pushing for playoff positioning and the Leagues Cup knockout stages approaching, Messi’s availability becomes crucial for the South Florida club.
