Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup win over Club Necaxa on Saturday night was overshadowed by the early exit of Lionel Messi, who left the pitch in the 11th minute due to a hamstring injury.
The incident occurred at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale when Messi collided with Necaxa players Raúl Sánchez and Alexis Peña while driving into the penalty box. After falling to the ground and striking the turf in frustration, Messi attempted to continue but quickly signaled for medical help and made his way directly to the locker room.
Coach Mascherano Offers Update
“Leo felt discomfort in his hamstring,” said Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano after the match. “We won’t know the full extent until tomorrow. He wasn’t in pain, but it’s clear something wasn’t right.”
Messi has a history of leg injuries, including recurring hamstring issues and a recent left adductor strain that kept him out of Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers earlier this year.
Messi’s 2025 Season So Far
Before the match, the 38-year-old had appeared in 30 games across all competitions for Inter Miami this year, including:
- Concacaf Champions Cup
- Club World Cup
- Leagues Cup
- Major League Soccer
In MLS alone, Messi has racked up 18 goals and nine assists in the 2025 season.
He was replaced by midfielder Federico Redondo following his substitution.
Further details on the injury are expected after medical assessments.
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