Messi Picks Up New Injury As Miami Advance To Champions Cup Top-8

Inter Miami boss Tata Martino has shared that Lionel Messi was removed from their CONCACAF Champions Cup match Wednesday due to a leg injury.

After the Herons defeated Nashville SC 3-1 (5-3 overall), Martino said in the postgame interview that the Argentine is probably questionable for this weekend’s matchup against D.C. United. Four minutes into the second half of the game, in the 49th minute, Messi was substituted out. He scored a goal and provided an assist in the first half of the leg two tie before being substituted.

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“He is overloaded on the right posterior [leg]. We don’t want to run a risk. We tried to see if he could go for a little longer, but it was bothering him … I imagine that for Saturday’s game (@ DC United) he is not going to be available”

The injury reported is a hamstring strain, according to Michelle Kaufman of The Miami Herald. It appears that the Herons talisman’s future with both club and country is uncertain ahead of two international matches against Argentina that begin next week.

He recently missed Inter Miami’s shocking 3-2 loss to CF Montreal due to what Martino described as ‘rest’ for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, but many suspected it was due to a shin injury that had him listed as questionable on the club’s injury report just hours before the match.

Last Fall, when Messi was sidelined with a “scar tissue flare-up,” he missed four matches for Inter Miami. The Herons went winless in the six matches – across all competitions – that followed. In 2024, their one match without them is also their only loss across all competitions.

The Herons will play again this next Saturday against D.C. United and former Liverpool star Christian Benteke. However, as previously mentioned, Messi is probably questionable for the match. It is unclear how serious the injury is, but he is expected to be out for at least a week and may now miss Argentina‘s upcoming international break due to his injury.