Relief for the Argentina national team: The extent of Lionel Messi's injury has been confirmed, and he will be sidelined for 10 days

Relief for the Argentina national team: The extent of Lionel Messi's injury has been confirmed, and he will be sidelined for 10 days

Relief for the Argentina national team: The extent of Lionel Messi's injury has been confirmed, and he will be sidelined for 10 days LAPRESSE

Inter Miami’s 6-4 victory over Philadelphia Union has been the talk of the town, not only because of the comeback but also because of Lionel Messi’s reaction when he was substituted in the 72nd minute, rubbing his thigh and looking concerned just three weeks before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Although coach Guillermo Hoyos stated that “he was fatigued” and his substitution was a precaution, the #10 underwent medical tests. While the results ruled out a tear, they confirmed inflammation in his hamstring , which will force him to sit out for ten days of recovery before returning to normal training.

Messi will be out for 10 days

Just over three weeks before the Argentine national team’s debut in the 2026 World Cup, the sight of Messi leaving the field at NU Stadium set off alarm bells for the team led by Lionel Scaloni.

However, tests conducted this Monday in Miami ruled out a tear, though they confirmed inflammation in the hamstring that will force the Argentine captain to halt activity for approximately 10 days. According to reports, the medical staff will closely monitor his progress and manage his physical workload with caution to avoid further risks at a critical stage of preparation for the World Cup.

The good news for Lionel Scaloni’s coaching staff is that the MLS is on hiatus and Messi has no immediate commitments with Inter Miami. However, he would enter the tournament on a cautious footing.

His next scheduled matches would be Argentina’s friendlies against Honduras and Iceland on June 7 and 10, respectively, in the United States.

Despite the scare, the Argentine’s season has been very positive: he has 12 goals and seven assists in 14 games with Inter Miami, in addition to having maintained physical consistency for much of the year. Now, the goal will be to arrive in peak condition for what could be his sixth and final World Cup.

Argentina will defend the title it won in Qatar 2022 and will make its debut against Algeria on Tuesday, June 16, at Kansas City Stadium. Then, at Dallas Stadium, it will face Austria on Monday, June 22, and Jordan on Saturday, June 27.