Inter Miami confirmed on Sunday that team captain Lionel Messi is facing an indefinite spell on the sidelines due to a minor muscle injury in his right leg.
The 38-year-old Argentine star was forced off the pitch just 11 minutes into Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Mexico’s Necaxa on Saturday. Although Messi exited the match early, he walked off the pitch without assistance and made his way directly to the locker room.
Following the incident, Inter Miami released a statement confirming that Messi had undergone tests to identify the cause of the discomfort. The examination revealed a minor muscle issue in his right leg. The club added that his return to action would depend on his progress through treatment and overall recovery.
As of now, no official timetable has been set for Messi’s comeback.
Messi currently shares the top spot in Major League Soccer’s scoring chart with 18 goals and has contributed nine assists in just 18 appearances this season.
His absence could have significant implications for Inter Miami, particularly as they push forward in the Leagues Cup tournament, which the team won last year shortly after Messi joined. Miami is scheduled to face UNAM Pumas on Wednesday and would secure a quarterfinal berth with a win.
Veteran defender Jordi Alba, who scored a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer on Saturday to help Miami win 5-4 on penalties, called Messi’s injury “a huge sadness for the whole team.”
Inter Miami remains fifth in the Eastern Conference with 42 points from 22 games, trailing first-place Philadelphia by eight points but holding three matches in hand.
