Lionel Messi has been ruled out for his third consecutive match due to an undisclosed injury, and reports indicate that he did not accompany the Inter Miami team to the stadium. This absence is notable, especially after Inter Miami’s recent loss to the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup final, where Messi’s presence was missed.
Inter Miami currently occupies the 14th spot in the Eastern Conference and faces the challenge of climbing to at least ninth place by the end of the season to qualify for the MLS playoffs.
Details regarding Messi’s injury remain limited, with the team consistently describing it as “muscle fatigue” without specifying the affected muscle or categorizing it as a distinct injury. While the team has expressed a focus on reaching the playoffs, the absence of Messi raises concerns about Inter Miami’s performance in the critical remaining matches.
Journalist Caden DeLisa shared information from a source indicating that Lionel Messi has a 2 cm hamstring tear, as confirmed by an MRI.
This injury, reportedly sustained during Argentina’s World Cup Qualifier against Ecuador and reaggravated against Toronto, could potentially sideline Messi for the remainder of the MLS season.
The situation underscores the challenges faced by Inter Miami and the broader impact of Messi’s absence on the team’s playoff aspirations.