Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has suffered a minor muscle injury in his right leg, which will keep him out of action indefinitely. The club has stated that his return will depend on medical examinations and recovery.
Soprts News: Argentine football legend and Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi suffered an injury during Saturday's Leagues Cup match. In the match against Mexican team Necaxa, Messi only played for 11 minutes before having to leave the field. Inter Miami said in an official statement that Messi has a minor muscle injury in his right leg and will be out of the team indefinitely.
The club has clarified that Messi underwent medical tests to assess the severity of the injury, and his return will depend on his health improvement and medical progress.
The 38-year-old Messi has been playing a key role for Inter Miami this season. He has scored 18 goals and provided 9 assists in 18 matches in MLS 2025 so far. He is the league's top scorer and also the center of the team's offensive strategy. His absence will not only affect the team's scoring ability but could also hinder the team's playoff hopes.
Jordi Alba's statement: “A sad moment for the whole team”
Messi's teammate Jordi Alba reacted to Messi's injury, saying, "His early exit like this is sad for the whole team." In the match, Alba scored the equalizing goal in injury time to take the team to a penalty shootout, where Miami won 5-4.
Miami's position in the playoff race
Inter Miami is currently fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference with 42 points. The team has won 12 matches, lost 4, and drawn 6 so far. Philadelphia is at the top, but Miami has three extra matches to play, which means there are still possibilities to move up the points table.
However, if Messi remains absent for a long time, the team's form and performance are bound to be affected. Miami also has to secure a place in the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup and the next match is against UNAM Pumas on Wednesday.
