In a moment that left fans holding their breath, Lionel Messi was forced to leave the pitch just 11 minutes into Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup fixture against Mexican side Necaxa. The match took place at Chase Field in Miami, and Messi’s early substitution raised concerns about his ongoing fitness struggles, especially with persistent thigh and hamstring issues that have plagued his 2025 season.
Messi, who has been a standout performer for Inter Miami with 18 goals and 9 assists in as many matches this season, appeared to pick up an injury while being tackled near Necaxa’s penalty box. Despite attempting to continue, he soon dropped to the turf, visibly in discomfort. Medical staff quickly assessed the situation, focusing on his right upper thigh and groin area—an area previously responsible for sidelining him during Argentina’s international fixtures and Inter’s Club World Cup games.
His substitution made way for fellow Argentine Federico Redondo, who joined the action just before Miami went down to 10 men following a red card in the 17th minute. Necaxa capitalized on the numerical advantage and managed to equalize. However, they too saw a player sent off later, balancing the scales in a tense and emotional game.
The drama escalated in the dying moments of the match as Jordi Alba netted a last-minute goal, pushing the game into extra time. Ultimately, Inter Miami clinched victory through a flawless penalty shootout, converting all five spot-kicks.
Despite the injury scare, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano provided a calming update post-match. He stated that Messi was taken off as a precautionary measure due to discomfort in his hamstring, adding that there was no significant pain involved. “Leo felt a bit of discomfort in his hamstring and we didn’t want to take any chances,” Mascherano explained. “We’ll assess the situation tomorrow, but it doesn’t seem serious at the moment.”
This development is particularly sensitive for Inter Miami as they aim to defend their 2023 Leagues Cup title, which marked Messi’s first trophy with the club. With the tournament now featuring 18 MLS teams and 18 from Liga MX, the competition has intensified, making Messi’s fitness pivotal to Miami’s title hopes.
