The Game Turned Late
It took one free kick to change the conversation. Lionel Messi signaled toward the Miami bench in the 73rd minute, grabbed the back of his right leg and walked off the field at Nu Stadium. His team finished the job anyway, winning 6–4.
No official diagnosis has come yet, but the calendar is not kind. The World Cup begins in 18 days. Messi turns 39 during the tournament and has not publicly confirmed he'll play. He said he'd wait to see if he could be at 100%.
Inter Miami interim manager Guillermo Hoyos suggested post-match it might be simple fatigue from the rain-soaked pitch. Other reports described the pull as precautionary—Messi felt something tighten and the club chose not to push it.
The Small Details Added Up
That caution makes sense given his recent history. Messi suffered a right ankle injury in the 2024 Copa América final and managed only 66 minutes as Argentina beat Colombia for the title.
He and teammate Rodrigo De Paul were slated to join Argentina's pre-tournament camp in Kansas City on June 1. The squad faces Honduras on June 6 and Iceland on June 9 before opening World Cup play against Algeria on June 16.
All nations must submit their 26-man rosters by June 2. Manager Lionel Scaloni is expected to announce his between May 28 and May 30.
The Table Looks Different
Messi has been exceptional this season—13 goals and seven assists in 16 games across all competitions—but one awkward movement on a set piece has now thrown everything into uncertainty.