Messi sparks injury fears before World Cup

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has ignited fresh injury worries ahead of the World Cup after he was substituted during Inter Miami CF's Major League Soccer match against the Philadelphia Union on Sunday. The star forward was replaced in the 73rd minute, appearing to clutch the back of his left leg during the game played in wet conditions in Miami.

Messi walked off the pitch unaided and headed directly to the tunnel, which helped ease immediate fears of a serious problem. Following the match, Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos insisted that the decision to substitute Messi was precautionary, not injury-related. "As far as I know, we don’t have a [medical] report on that yet, but he really was fatigued," Hoyos said. He added, "He was tired; the pitch was heavy and when in doubt, the standard approach is always to ensure you don’t take any risks."

The 38-year-old forward has not yet officially confirmed his participation in the upcoming World Cup for the Argentina national football team. However, he is widely anticipated to feature in what would be a record-equalling sixth appearance at football's premier tournament. Messi has managed his workload carefully since joining Inter Miami in 2023 but has still faced periods on the sidelines due to hamstring issues.

Argentina is expected to closely monitor Messi's condition before finalizing their squad for the tournament. His fitness remains a critical factor for the team's prospects in the World Cup.

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He was tired; the pitch was heavy and when in doubt, the standard approach is always to ensure you don’t take any risks.