The 38-year-old superstar left Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match early with a muscle strain, leaving his team’s title defense in limbo as they await a timeline for his return.
August 4, 2025: Inter Miami’s superstar captain Lionel Messi will be sidelined indefinitely with what the team has described as a “minor muscle injury in his right leg.” The 38-year-old Argentine legend suffered the injury early in Saturday’s Leagues Cup match against Mexico’s Necaxa, a game Inter Miami eventually won on penalties.
Messi, who is tied for the MLS season lead with 18 goals, left the field in the 11th minute of the match. According to a statement from the club, he “underwent medical tests to evaluate the extent of the muscle discomfort he experienced” and the results confirmed the minor injury. There is currently no timetable for his return, with his medical clearance dependent on his “clinical progress and response to treatment.”
The absence of their talisman is a significant blow for Inter Miami, which is currently competing for a spot in the Leagues Cup knockout stage. Teammate Jordi Alba, who scored the equalizer for Miami, expressed “a huge sadness for the whole team” following Messi’s early exit.
Inter Miami is set to host UNAM Pumas on Wednesday and would clinch a quarter-final berth in the Leagues Cup with a victory.