Lionel Messi suffers leg injury scare shortly before 2026 FIFA World Cup

Lionel Messi suffered an apparent leg injury in Inter Miami's match against Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer on Sunday (24 May), three weeks before Argentina's opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Messi, the hero of Argentina's spectacular 2022 football World Cup triumph in Qatar and an Olympic gold medallist from Beijing 2008, left the field in the 73rd minute of the match, clutching the back of his left leg.

After requesting to be taken off, the 38-year-old was seen walking normally as he headed down the tunnel and into the locker room.

It was Messi's final MLS game for Inter Miami before he joins Argentina, who begin their World Cup title defence on 16 June, facing Algeria in a Group J clash.

Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos, whose team won 6-4, said after the match that the record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was taken off the wet pitch on a rainy night in Miami, Florida as a precautionary measure.

"As far as I know, we don't have a [medical] report on that yet, but he really was fatigued," Hoyos said.

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

An inflamed Achilles while playing for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in November 2022 threatened to derail Messi's World Cup campaign, but he went on to play every minute at the tournament, guiding his nation to their third world title.

La Albiceleste will name their 2026 World Cup squad later this week, and once again, all eyes will be on the magical Messi, who will be making a record-equalling sixth appearance at the finals.

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