Lionel Messi was dealt an almighty injury scare less than a month before the World Cup after he was forced off with a hamstring problem.
Messi was seen grabbing his leg during Inter Miami’s 6-4 win over Philadelphia Union on Sunday and was replaced in the 73rd minute, heading straight down the tunnel.
Scans have revealed that he suffered “an overload associated with muscle fatigue” with a Miami statement reading: “The timeline for his return to physical activity will depend on his clinical and functional progress.”
Argentina will now anxiously wait to discover whether this means the 38-year-old is at risk of missing what looks set to be his last ever World Cup.
It is the first time the Messi has been substituted for Miami this season, having played every minute of his 14 appearances in which he has scored 12 goals and bagged seven assists.
He has rarely experienced lengthy injury problems for the MLS club since arriving stateside in 2023 with his longest absence of two months coming in the summer of 2024.
Messi has, however, dealt with hamstring issues on at least two other occasions during his three-year stint in Miami.
Messi inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, scoring seven goals - including a brace in their blockbuster final with France - to win the tournament’s Golden Ball.
He has previously stated that he would only play at this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico only if he is healthy.
“I would like to be there,” he said last October. “To feel well and to be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there.
"I am going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start pre-season next year with Inter and see if I can really be 100%. I'm really eager because it's the World Cup.
"We're coming off winning the last World Cup, and being able to defend it on the pitch again is spectacular because it's always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions, so hopefully God will allow me to do it once again."
