Just weeks before the 2026 men’s World Cup kicks off across North America, Argentine football icon Lionel Messi is at the center of an injury scare after Inter Miami confirmed a diagnosis of left hamstring muscle fatigue. The Major League Soccer side announced the results of follow-up medical evaluations on Monday, three days after the 38-year-old was forced to exit Sunday’s 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Union in the 73rd minute of play.
During the match, Messi visibly grabbed the back of his left hamstring to signal discomfort before requesting a substitution. Though observers noted he walked normally as he exited the pitch for the locker room, the club’s post-match medical workup pointed to fatigue-induced muscle overload from accumulated activity.
In an official statement, Inter Miami explained, ‘After undergoing further medical tests this Monday, the initial diagnosis indicates an overload associated with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring. The timeline for his return to physical activity will depend on his clinical and functional progress.’ The club provided no fixed schedule for Messi’s comeback, leaving both fans and national team staff in anticipation of updates.
The injury comes at a critical moment for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who is widely expected to feature in the upcoming World Cup — a tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico that gets underway on June 11. Argentina, the defending 2022 World Cup champions, will play their first group stage match against Algeria in Kansas City just five days after the tournament opener.
Messi has not yet formally confirmed his participation in the 2026 tournament, but all public indicators point to him suiting up for a record-tying sixth World Cup appearance. The Argentine Football Association is set to name its official World Cup squad next week, and the national team will already travel to the U.S. for pre-tournament friendlies against Honduras on June 6 and Iceland on June 9, before the group stage kicks off.
Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, the club’s coaching and medical staff have carefully managed Messi’s playing workload to prevent overexertion, regularly resting him during stretches of congested fixture schedules. MLS has already entered a scheduled break to accommodate the World Cup, giving Messi time to recover without missing club matches, but the uncertainty around his rehabilitation timeline still raises concerns for Argentina ahead of their title defense.