Football star, Lionel Messi, experiences an early exit during Miami's triumph in the Leagues Cup, due to an injury.
In a setback for Inter Miami, Argentine superstar forward Lionel Messi was forced to leave their Leagues Cup match against Necaxa on August 2, 2025, due to a minor muscle injury in his upper right leg or groin.
The injury occurred in the opening minutes of the game, with Messi stumbling at the top of the box and running into a defender, causing him to fall. He was subsequently substituted in the 11th minute and walked to the locker room under his own power.
Despite the early exit, Messi had already made an impact, assisting on both Inter Miami goals in their Leagues Cup opener against Atlas. His contribution helped Inter Miami secure a 2-2 draw against Necaxa, a result that took the game into a penalty shootout.
The exact details and severity of Messi's injury will be known on Sunday, as medical tests are ongoing. Inter Miami's medical staff will monitor his clinical progress and treatment response before determining his return timeline. At present, it is unclear how many games he might miss.
Inter Miami concluded group stage play in the Leagues Cup on Wednesday, with the match against Pumas yet to be played. The team has had an impressive run in the competition, with Messi leading them to the inaugural Leagues Cup crown in 2023.
During the match against Necaxa, Inter Miami took the lead in the 12th minute through a goal by Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia. Tomas Badaloni of Necaxa netted the equalizer for his team in the 33rd minute. Alba then scored the equalizer for Inter Miami in the second minute of stoppage time, setting the stage for a thrilling penalty shootout.
The shootout saw Rodrigo De Paul, Ben Cremaschi, Jordi Alba, Federico Redondo, and Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez hit penalties for Inter Miami. However, Argentine striker Tomas Badaloni was denied on the decisive penalty kick in the third round of the shootout. Suarez stepped up to score the decisive penalty kick for Miami in the last round, securing a 5-4 victory for Inter Miami.
The match was not without further drama, as Maximiliano Falcon of Uruguay was shown a red card for Inter Miami in the 17th minute, and Cristian Calderon received a red card for Necaxa in the 60th minute.
As Inter Miami awaits further updates on Messi's injury, they will be hoping for a swift recovery from their star player. The team will be looking to continue their strong form in the Leagues Cup when they face Pumas in their next match.
After Messi's early departure due to a muscle injury during the Leagues Cup match against Necaxa, fans and teammates alike are hoping for a swift recovery for the Argentine football star. Despite his absence, Inter Miami's impressive teamwork, as displayed in their thrilling 5-4 penalty shootout win over Necaxa, promise a promising future in the competition, particularly against their upcoming opponent, Pumas.
