Lionel Messi suffers from “overwork associated with muscular fatigue in the left hamstring,” his club Inter Miami announced on Monday, less than three weeks before the World Cup.
The day before, the 38-year-old Argentine star had asked to go out during a match against the Philadelphia Union in MLS after holding the back of his left thigh.
“After undergoing additional medical examinations this Monday, the preliminary diagnosis indicates overexertion associated with muscular fatigue in the left hamstring,” indicates a medical press release from Inter Miami.
“The return to physical activity will depend on the evolution of his clinical and functional state,” adds the club.
This news is rather reassuring for the eight-time Ballon d’Or, the press release not mentioning a muscle tear or other serious injury, which would constitute a huge blow for Argentina, the reigning world champion.
Lionel Messi has carefully managed his workload since his arrival at Inter Miami in 2023, with the staff having regularly exempted him from matches during particularly busy periods of the calendar.
He’s been on the bench several times in recent years due to hamstring problems, which forced him to miss part of Miami’s preparation earlier this year.
The 2026 World Cup, co-organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will start on June 11 and last until July 19. The Argentinians, in Group J with Algeria, Jordan and Austria, will defend their crown won in 2022 in Qatar from June 16.
If he appeared in coach Lionel Scaloni’s final list, Messi would take part in his sixth World Cup.
