Worry? Messi feels his thigh in his last game for Inter Miami before the World Cup

Lionel Messi left the field in the 28th minute of the second half of his last match for Inter Miami before the 2026 World Cup, last Sunday (24).

Despite the concern, the coach of the Florida team, Guillermo Hoyos, said he believed the Argentine was just fatigued after playing on a heavy pitch.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was substituted after feeling pain in the back of his thigh following one of his signature free kicks during Inter Miamo's 6-4 victory over the Philadelphia Union in Miami.

"We don't have a medical report on this yet, we will soon," Hoyos told reporters when asked about the reason for Messi's substitution.

"He was actually suffering from fatigue in that respect; it was indeed fatigue. He was tired, the pitch was heavy and when in doubt, the standard approach is always to make sure you don't take any risks," he added.

Major League Soccer (MLS) is now on a mid-season break for the World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and runs from June 11 to July 19.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni announced a 55-player squad, including Messi, on May 11. He will need to reduce the list to 26 before FIFA's June 1 deadline.

Messi played a fundamental role in Argentina's third world championship triumph, in Qatar, four years ago. The team begins its title defense against Algeria, in Kansas City, on June 16.

Generation 2026: in his last World Cup, Messi aims for a second consecutive championship

Source: CNN