On the day Major League Soccer paused for the World Cup, Argentina fans got something the y did not ask for: Lionel Messi walking off the field with a limp.
Messi, Inter Miami's talisman, had just delivered two assists in a wild 6–4 win over the Philadelphia Union when he was forced out with 17 minutes left. He was seen grabbing the back of his thigh before heading to the sidelines. The timing, with Argentina's World Cup opener against Algeria scheduled for June 17, could have been worse. The final is July 19 — seven weeks away.
What the club said
Tests later confirmed an issue with Messi's left hamstring, though the club was quick to frame it as muscle fatigue rather than a strain or tear. Gastón Edul, a well-connected reporter, was first to note the with drawal was precautionary. Miami manager Guillermo Hoyos echoed that, telling reporters Messi was simply tired and the heavy field conditions did not help.
The two teams were tied 4–4 when Messi left. Watching your best player step off when a goal was still needed tends to sharpen everyone's concern, even if the club insists the re is nothing serious.
The return question
Hamstring issues range widely — a minor sprain can settle in days, while a major tear can sideline a player for months. This appears to be the mild end. Argentina has just over three weeks until its first match and, as things stand, the re is no indication Messi will not be ready.
Whether he will go to the tournament remains his call. He has said he would wait and see how his body feels. For now, the hamstring is sore, not shattered — and that is the kind of timeline that turns roster planning into calendar management.