Inter Miami captain, Lionel Messi faces an uncertain period on the sidelines after sustaining a minor muscle injury in his right leg during the team’s Leagues Cup penalty-kick victory over Mexico’s Necaxa on Saturday.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) club issued a statement confirming the injury, which occurred in the 11th minute of the match, forcing the 38-year-old Argentine superstar to leave the field and head to the locker room.
According to Inter Miami, medical evaluations revealed a minor muscle injury in Messi’s upper right leg.
The club noted, “His return to play will depend on his clinical progress and response to treatment,” indicating no set timeline for the recovery of the team’s talisman, who leads the MLS with 18 goals and has contributed nine assists in 18 matches this season.
The injury occurred during a tightly contested Leagues Cup match at home, where Messi’s early exit was a blow to the team. Despite his absence, Inter Miami rallied, with Jordi Alba scoring a crucial equalizer in second-half stoppage time to force a penalty shootout, which the hosts won 5-4.
Alba expressed the team’s disappointment, stating, “Losing Leo so early is a huge sadness for the whole team, but we showed resilience to secure the win.”
Currently second in the MLS standings, Inter Miami has secured five points in the Leagues Cup, positioning them well for the knockout stage.
A victory in their upcoming match against UNAM Pumas on Wednesday would guarantee a quarterfinal berth.
The team now faces the challenge of maintaining their momentum without their star player, whose dynamic presence has been pivotal to their success this season.
Fans await updates on Messi’s recovery, with hopes that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will return swiftly to bolster Inter Miami’s campaign in both the Leagues Cup and the MLS season.
