World Cup fears as Lionel Messi limps off injured in Inter Miami’s 6-4 thriller

Lionel Messi sparked widespread panic ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup after walking off injured during Inter Miami’s chaotic 6-4 victory over the Philadelphia Union, though subsequent updates suggest the substitution was merely a precautionary measure.

The 38-year-old Argentine superstar clutched the upper part of his left thigh and signaled to the bench shortly after executing a free kick in the 70th minute.

He was officially replaced by Mateo Silvetti in the 73rd minute and bypassed the team bench entirely, walking straight down the tunnel into the locker room.

The sudden exit heavily overshadowed a historic, high-scoring performance by Inter Miami in what was Messi’s final domestic match before the Major League Soccer season breaks for the World Cup.

Despite the initial fears, early indications heavily downplay the severity of the issue. According to the prominent Argentine sports journalist Gaston Edul, who closely tracks the national team, Messi does not have a diagnosed muscle injury.

This narrative aligns closely with comments from Inter Miami’s interim head coach, Guillermo Hoyos. According to Yahoo Sports, Hoyos clarified in his post-match press conference that the club has yet to receive an official medical report, but he attributed the substitution to extreme muscle fatigue.

The coach noted that the match was physically grueling due to a heavy, waterlogged pitch from severe South Florida rain, making it an easy decision not to risk the forward’s health.

The timing of the injury scare is incredibly sensitive given that defending champions Argentina are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign against Algeria in just over three weeks on June 16.

National team manager Lionel Scaloni is also expected to finalize his official 26-man roster this week, leaving the soccer world eagerly awaiting the results of Messi’s formal medical examinations.