1 week ago
Lionel Messi exited Inter Miami’s chaotic 6-4 triumph against nan Philadelphia Union early connected Sunday night, a worrying show for nan Argentina broadside he captains successful his past crippled earlier he joins up pinch nan nationalist squad for nan 2026 World Cup.
Messi’s actions earlier being taken disconnected did not look to fuss him and he was not limping erstwhile he came disconnected nan field. Amid a emblematic South Florida deluge, he had taken a free footwear effort successful nan 68th minute, and went connected a dribbling tally pinch an attempted done shot for an offside Ian Fray not agelong afterward pinch nary evident issue.
He spent nan adjacent respective minutes playing mostly astatine stepping pace, earlier rolling his shorts up and signaling for a substitution to nan Miami chair while opinionated adjacent to nan sideline. Messi exited nan crippled and went consecutive down nan passageway successful nan 73rd minute.
Multiple reports from observers astatine Nu Stadium said Messi was seen holding his leg, but this was not evident connected nan broadcast astatine immoderate point.
Inter Miami caput coach said that nan nine did not yet person a aesculapian study connected Messi, but that he believed Messi was simply fatigued, pinch nan transportation getting dense owed to nan rain. However, it is highly different for Messi to beryllium substituted retired of a crippled for Inter Miami. The 38-year-old has played a afloat 90 minutes for each crippled successful which he has appeared for Inter Miami this season, arsenic good arsenic nan immense mostly for which he was fresh past play arsenic Miami won MLS Cup.
Messi’s wellness will beryllium intimately monitored successful nan coming days fixed his value to Argentina’s World Cup title defense, which originates successful 23 days against Algeria successful Kansas City. Before that, La Albiceleste has friendlies against Honduras connected 6 June and Iceland connected 9 June. They adjacent nan World Cup group shape pinch matches against Austria connected 22 June and Jordan connected 27 June.
Despite his stature pinch Argentina and globally arsenic 1 of nan game’s best-ever players, Messi had antecedently expressed immoderate uncertainty he would beryllium disposable for nan 2026 World Cup, which originates successful little than a period successful nan United States, Mexico and Canada.
“I would for illustration to beryllium there, to beryllium good and beryllium an important portion of helping my team, if I americium there,” Messi told NBC successful an question and reply past year. “I’m going to measure that connected a day-to-day ground erstwhile I commencement preseason adjacent twelvemonth pinch Inter (and spot if I tin really beryllium 100%, if I tin beryllium useful and past make a decision.”
Messi has been successful his accustomed awesome for Miami this season, scoring 12 goals and adding 7 assists successful 14 appearances truthful acold for nan defending champions.
