Messi gets injury update amid World Cup worry
After the scare Messi suffered when he left injured in his last game with Inter Miami, the Argentine star will not miss the 2026 World Cup.
Inter Miami and the Philadelphia Union played one of the highest-scoring matches in MLS history. Led by a hat trick from Luis Suárez, the Herons secured all three points and claimed their second victory at NU Stadium, their new home. However, the biggest story went beyond the result and centred on the health of their captain and star player, Lionel Messi, who requested to be substituted before heading straight to the locker room with an injury concern.
Alarm bells rang in the 73rd minute when Messi grabbed his leg and immediately asked to come off. Mateo Silvetti replaced the Argentine star, and with the World Cup less than 20 days away, concern quickly spread across Argentina. The captain is set to play in his sixth and final World Cup due to age restrictions, although, in terms of talent, he continues to prove week after week that he remains unmatched.
This was Messi’s final match with Inter Miami before the World Cup and, although it did not end the way he had hoped because of his physical condition, the Herons still secured the win. Fortunately for Argentina, early reports suggest the injury scare will not be serious, and Messi is expected to arrive at the World Cup in top condition as the Albiceleste attempt to defend their crown.
On Monday, Messi underwent tests with Inter Miami to assess the injury and, according to ESPN, he suffered “a small strain in his left hamstring; a minor muscle fibre tear”. He is expected to need between 10 and 14 days of recovery in order to be ready for Argentina’s first friendly against Honduras on 6 June in Texas.
Argentina will then face Iceland on 9 June before heading to the World Cup, where they have been drawn into Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan. Messi is expected to play a key role and be fully fit for the tournament, which, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, will mark the sixth World Cup appearance of his career.
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