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<ul><li>Miami confirms Messi muscle injury</li><li>Club has no timeline for return</li><li>Argentine has played heavy minutes in 2025</li><li><div data-name="Apple TV" class="affiliate-button-container theme-1"><div class="affiliate-button"><img height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72;height: 40;" class="logo"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" target="_blank" class="affiliate-button-link">Stream games now</a></div></li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Inter Miami confirms Lionel Messi sustained minor muscle injury in right leg in Leagues Cup, no timeline yet for return

Leagues Cup

Orlando City

Necaxa

Inter Miami CF

Club Universidad Nacional

<p>Inter Miami confirmed Sunday that Lionel Messi sustained a minor muscle injury in their Leagues Cup match against Necaxa over the weekend.</p><p>Messi was forced off the pitch in the 11th minute after colliding with two defenders at the top of Necaxa’s penalty area in the seventh minute on Saturday night. He briefly carried on, but was removed four minutes later and replaced by Federico Redondo. He went straight to the locker room.&nbsp;</p><p>"Messi underwent medical tests to evaluate the extent of the muscle discomfort he experienced during last night’s Leagues Cup match against Necaxa, which forced him to leave the field," the club said in a statement. "The results confirmed a minor muscle injury in his right leg. His medical clearance will depend on his clinical progress and response to treatment."</p><p>The Herons <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/inter-miami-necaxa-lionel-messi-injury-the-herons-leagues-cup/blt6aea77b5b580ef33" target="_self">drew 2-2</a> in regulation and found victory in the ensuing shootout to claim two total points. Through their opening two games, they sit on five points.&nbsp;</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>The Argentine has played a pivotal role for Miami in 2025, logging 1,565 minutes of a possible 1,620 across 18 appearances during the regular season. He also played every minute of Miami's four matches at the Club World Cup in June, while logging an additional 555 minutes earlier in the season in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.</p><p>His season total is up to 2,581 minutes. Since Feb. 20, Messi has played in 31 matches for Miami and an additional two for his national team, Argentina.</p><p>The 37-year-old was selected to feature at the MLS All-Star game, but did not attend the match. He was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/mls-hands-lionel-messi-jordi-alba-one-game-suspensions-for-skipping-league-s-all-star-game-both-unavailable-for-inter-miami-s-match-against-fc-cincinnati/blt5bd0dba0c74ace72" target="_self">suspended for one match</a>. Miami coach Javier Mascherano cited <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/inter-miami-s-javier-mascherano-lionel-messi-new-england-revolution/blt1683c5724380b35e" target="_self">congestion concerns.</a></p><p>During the first month of the MLS season, Messi was held out of multiple matches for what Mascherano cited as <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lionel-messi-reportedly-does-not-travel-for-inter-miami-match-vs-houston-dynamo/bltae94ea5d95baf2c2#csf1d547e93f416f44" target="_self">"load management."</a> He's missed four regular season games.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Messi missed the entirety of Leagues Cup 2024 due to injury upon return from the Copa America with Argentina last summer.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Miami returns to the pitch in Leagues Cup on Wednesday when they take on PUMAS of Liga MX.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Inter Miami confirms Lionel Messi sustained minor muscle injury in right leg in Leagues Cup, no timeline yet for return | Goal.com

Since Feb. 20, Messi has played in 31 matches for Miami and an additional two for his national team

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