Lionel Messi sparked injury concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup after leaving Inter Miami’s match against the Philadelphia Union with an apparent leg problem.
The Argentine forward requested a substitution during Sunday’s match in Miami and walked off the pitch in the 73rd minute while holding the back of his leg.
Messi then went straight to the dressing room when rain fell during the match. The 38-year-old left the field under his own power, but the extent of the injury remains unclear.
Messi has been in strong form for Inter Miami this season, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 13 appearances.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner joined the Major League Soccer club in 2023 after a legendary career with Barcelona and a spell at Paris Saint-Germain.
The injury scare comes just over two weeks before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Argentina opens its campaign against Algeria on June 16.
Messi remains one of the most successful players in football history. He led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, winning the Ballon d’Or after scoring seven goals during the tournament.
He also shares the record for most combined goals and assists in World Cup history alongside Brazilian icon Pele.
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