Messi Comes Off Holding Left Leg in Inter Miami Win, Argentina Awaits Medical Test Results 18 Days From Kickoff
Lionel Messi was substituted in the 73rd minute of Inter Miami's MLS win against Philadelphia Union, walking straight off and holding the back of his left leg. Neither club nor federation have confirmed the extent of the issue, with medical tests expected in the next 24 hours. Argentina open against Algeria 18 days from the incident; the captain is set for what would be his sixth World Cup.
L ionel Messi left the field holding the back of his left leg during Inter Miami's MLS match against Philadelphia Union, asking to be substituted in the 73rd minute despite playing a central role in his side's win. The image of the Argentina captain walking straight to the locker room with a hand on his hamstring has triggered immediate concern in Argentina, 18 days from the World Cup opener against Algeria in Arlington, Texas.
What happened
Messi was decisive in Miami's victory before signalling to the bench in the 73rd minute. He held the back of his left leg as he walked off and did not return to the touchline. Neither Inter Miami nor the AFA has released a formal medical statement at the time of writing. Medical tests are expected in the coming hours to distinguish between accumulated fatigue and a structural muscle issue.
Why the timing matters
Argentina opens its 2026 World Cup against Algeria in Arlington on June 17, then plays Austria in Inglewood on June 22, and closes Group J against Jordan in Houston on June 27. Eighteen days separate the Philadelphia substitution from the opener. A grade-one hamstring strain typically takes 7-14 days to clear; a grade two pushes 3-6 weeks. Without a scan, the AFA staff cannot yet say which side of that line the issue sits on.
The sixth World Cup question
A sixth tournament is on the line. Only a handful of players in football history have reached that number, and Messi has framed 2026 publicly as a likely final outing on the global stage. Manager Lionel Scaloni has built a deep generation around him, with Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández carrying the next layer of Argentina's attacking identity, but the captain remains the on-pitch reference point the side has been built around since 2018.
What we do not know yet
The full extent of the injury. Whether Messi will play any further pre-tournament minutes for Inter Miami. Whether the AFA will withhold him from any of Argentina's warm-up plans. Until a scan and an official update land, this is a precaution-flag story, not a withdrawal story. We will update /teams/arg/ when the medical report arrives.
Reporting: Bolavip / AFA / Inter Miami pool reports, May 25, 2026.