Messi was injured during an MLS match but hopes to play in the 2026 World Cup
Lionel Messi, a forward for the Florida-based Inter Miami, was injured during the team’s 6-4 victory over the Philadelphia Union in a regular-season MLS match.
Immediately after being forced to leave the game, the 38-year-old Argentine soccer player headed to the locker room for a medical examination.
The star forward started the match and managed to contribute two assists.
However, in the 73rd minute of the match, Lionel Messi left the field due to pain in his left hamstring.
According to a source, the substitution was made as a precaution. The forward wanted to avoid the risk of a potential muscle injury that could jeopardize his participation in the 2026 World Cup.
The media have not reported any serious health complications for the player.
The current season has been quite productive for the Argentine. In total, Messi has played 16 matches at the club level for Inter Miami, scoring 13 goals and recording seven assists.
Consistent playing time allows him to remain the main leader of both the American club and his national team.
It was previously reported that Lionel made the extended roster of the Argentine national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The upcoming World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The team will defend its title as the world’s strongest national team.
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