Messi Suffers Hamstring Injury Three Weeks Before World Cup 2026
Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
- Argentina captain Lionel Messi suffered a hamstring injury during Inter Miami's MLS match against Philadelphia Union on May 25, 2026.
- The injury, described as muscle fatigue by his coach, has raised concerns among Argentinian fans ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
- Messi provided an assist in the match, which Inter Miami won 6-4, before being substituted in the 73rd minute.
Argentina's captain, Lionel Messi, sustained a hamstring injury during Inter Miami's MLS match against the Philadelphia Union on Monday, May 25, 2026. The star player was substituted in the 73rd minute of the game, sparking immediate concern among fans, particularly in Argentina, given the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
While the official squad for the World Cup has not yet been announced, Argentina's first match is scheduled for June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City, USA. Messi, who played a pivotal role in Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory, is a crucial figure for the national team. The team is grouped in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan for this year's tournament.
He only suffered a minor injury, which was muscle fatigue.
Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos downplayed the severity of the injury, describing it as "muscle fatigue." He explained that Messi was substituted to prevent any greater risk. Despite the injury scare, Messi had a strong performance before his withdrawal, contributing one assist to Inter Miami's 6-4 victory over Philadelphia Union.
Messi's assist was for German Berterame's first goal. The other goals for Inter Miami were scored by Berterame, Luis Suarez (three goals), and Rodrigo De Paul. Philadelphia Union scored through Milan Iloski (two goals, including a penalty) and Bruni Damiani. Messi, who has participated in five previous World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022), will undergo further assessment to determine the extent of his injury and his availability for the upcoming World Cup.
He was substituted to avoid greater risk.
Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.