Inter Miami is currently concerned about the availability of their star forward Lionel Messi after he sustained a hamstring injury that forced him to withdraw from training this week. The Argentina international is now preparing for a fast recovery ahead of the upcoming MLS season opener.
Messi missed Miami’s training session on Wednesday, having injured his left hamstring during a friendly match against Barcelona SC in Ecuador. The club issued an official statement confirming his absence just over a week before their first league game against Los Angeles FC, scheduled for February 22.
Medical Update and Recovery Outlook
In their announcement, Inter Miami specified the nature of Messi’s injury and the ongoing evaluation.
“Messi did not participate in training this Wednesday, February 11, due to a muscle strain in his left hamstring sustained during the match against Barcelona SC in Ecuador, which has persisted since then,”
the club shared on social media.
Further assessments have been conducted to determine the full extent of the injury.
“The player underwent additional medical tests that confirmed the diagnosis. His gradual return to training will depend on his clinical and functional progress in the coming days,”
the statement added.
Messi’s Impact and Inter Miami’s Title Defense Ambitions
Coming off a historic campaign, Messi remains central to Inter Miami’s hopes for a repeat MLS Cup success. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner earned the MLS MVP award for the second straight year, becoming the first player to win the honor consecutively while guiding Miami to its first-ever league title.
During last season, Messi delivered an outstanding performance with 29 goals and 19 assists, securing the Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer. His total of 48 regular-season goal contributions was just one short of the division record set by Carlos Vela in 2019 with Los Angeles FC.
Inter Miami will rely heavily on Messi’s swift recovery as they prepare to defend their championship in the new season.
