The Leagues Cup was the triumphant stage of Lionel Messi’s arrival in Major League Soccer, when he led Inter Miami to the club’s first ever trophy after arriving in 2023.
Unfortunately, the 2025 edition has proven a little more painful.
Inter Miami may have to push forward without Messi’s influence after the Argentine legend went down early in the club’s second group-stage match.
The Herons took a step closer to the knockout stage by beating Nexaca on penalties after a 2-2 draw, but Messi suffered an injury early on. The Sporting News has the latest on the problem and what we know about how long he could be sidelined.
MORE: A full breakdown of Lionel Messi’s injury history across his entire career
Lionel Messi injury update
In the 11th minute of Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw with Mexican club Nexaca in the Leagues Cup on Saturday, Messi was withdrawn after suffering an apparent hamstring injury.
Messi ran into Nexaca defender Alexis Pena and fell to the ground. He received treatment from the trainers before exiting the pitch under his own power and being replaced by Federico Redondo.
“He felt discomfort, and we will not be able to know until tomorrow how severe the injury is,” Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said after the match. “There’s probably something there. Maybe not as important because he was really not in pain. But he did feel a pull.”
🗣️🇦🇷 Mascherano explains Messi’s injury after being subbed off very early in the Leagues Cup match#beINSPORTS #LeaguesCup #Messi pic.twitter.com/BIuQDJrs1Z
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) August 3, 2025
The club later confirmed that the injury was not serious, although they did not specify the precise nature of the problem.
“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,” they said.
“The results confirmed a minor muscle injury in his right leg. His medical clearance will depend on his clinical progress and response to treatment.”
How long will Lionel Messi be out?
Mascherano downplayed Messi’s injury after the match, and the fact the problem is minor means he should not be sidelined for too long.
Three weeks has often been the normal recovery time for muscle injuries in Messi’s past, but there will hope that he can return sooner.
Inter Miami will play Mexican club Pumas on Wednesday in their final group-stage match, and it’s likely that Messi will miss that game. The knockout stage begins August 19 with the quarterfinals, and the semifinals will take place August 26, so it’s plausible that Messi can work his way back for one of those games should Inter Miami reach that far.
Lionel Messi injury history as hamstring concerns plague star
This latest muscle injury is just the latest in a long line of such issues in Messi’s career.
The 38-year-old has had multiple hamstring and adductor injuries as an Inter Miami player, missing the start of last season with a muscle problem.
He also had hamstring issues during his Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain careers, including significant time missed in 2013.
