Lionel Messi set off alarm bells at Inter Miami after suffering an injury that forced the Argentine star to exit early in their Leagues Cup match against Necaxa. After securing a win in the penalty shootout, head coach Javier Mascherano offered a hopeful update on Messi’s status.
The Herons started strong at Chase Stadium, dominating possession early, with Messi among the most active players on the pitch. However, the forward clutched his right hamstring after contact with Raul Sanchez while driving the ball forward.
Messi went down in visible discomfort in the 8th minute, and after a brief medical assessment, was substituted in the 11th minute for midfielder Federico Redondo. Cameras later captured Messi walking to the locker room under his own power, flanked by staff but without assistance.
Following the 2-point victory over Necaxa, Mascherano addressed Messi’s condition during his post-match press conference. “Leo felt some discomfort in his hamstring, and we won’t know the extent of the injury until tomorrow,” the coach said, signaling that further evaluation is still pending.
Mascherano added a reassuring note on the injury’s severity: “He’s definitely dealing with something, maybe it’s not too serious because he wasn’t in pain, but he did feel some discomfort.”
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Video: Lionel Messi forced off with muscle injury in Inter Miami vs. Necaxa Leagues Cup clash
Inter Miami face crucial stretch without Messi
Despite Messi’s early exit and Maximiliano Falcon’s red card in the 17th minute, Inter Miami managed to pull off a 2-2 draw in regulation thanks to a dramatic header by Jordi Alba in the 92nd minute. Luis Suarez sealed the win in the penalty shootout with the decisive strike to make it 5-4. The Herons currently sit atop the MLS Leagues Cup table with five points, though six teams are still awaiting their second match.
Inter Miami will aim to clinch a spot in the next round on Wednesday when they host Pumas UNAM. After that, they’ll return to MLS action on August 10 in the Florida Derby against Orlando City, followed by a matchup against LA Galaxy on August 16. While the severity of Messi’s injury is still unclear, unless he makes a swift recovery, the star forward is likely to miss at least the next few games.
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