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Miami registered a 5-4 triumph on penalties after the sides were inseparable at 2-2 at the end of open play after Messi was subbed off in the 11th minute of the game.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) walks off the pitch after leaving the game during the first half of a Leagues Cup soccer match against Necaxa, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi was subbed off in the 11th minute of Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup fixture on Sunday against Mexican outfit Necaxa at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Miami registered a 5-4 triumph on penalties after the sides were inseparable at 2-2 at the end of open play.
“Well, he felt a discomfort, and we will not be able to know until tomorrow how severe the injury is,” Inter Miami head coach Mascherano said following the side’s victory over the Mexican side..
“There’s probably something there. Maybe not as important, because he was really not in pain. But he did feel a pull,” the Argentine added.
Messi advanced with the ball, dribbling into Necaxa’s defense, but he stumbled near the penalty area and collided with defender Alexis Pena, falling to the ground in frustration as the ball was cleared away.
Shortly after, Herons captain Messi was alone near midfield on the left wing when he sat down and lay briefly on his back until the trainers arrived.
Mascherano chose to substitute Messi with Federico Redondo.
Inter Miami won 5-4 on penalties after both 10-man teams ended regulation time in a 2-2 draw.
Argentine striker Tomas Badaloni missed the decisive penalty kick in the third round of the shootout, while Rodrigo De Paul, Ben Cremaschi, Jordi Alba, Redondo, and Luis Suarez scored for Miami, with Uruguayan striker Suarez sealing the win with the last kick.
Inter Miami’s Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia scored in the 12th minute, but Herons defender Maximiliano Falcon from Uruguay received a red card in the 17th minute.
Badaloni equalized for Necaxa in the 33rd minute, leveling the score at half-time. Necaxa was also reduced to 10 men when Cristian Calderon was shown a red card in the 60th minute.
Ricardo Monreal, who was substituted in the 74th minute, scored in the 81st minute to give Necaxa the lead, only for Spain’s Alba to equalize for Miami in the second minute of stoppage time.
During Argentine World Cup qualifiers in March, Messi was troubled by thigh strain issues.
Messi has scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in 18 MLS appearances this season.
He assisted on both Inter Miami goals in a 2-1 victory over Atlas on Wednesday in their Leagues Cup opener, a tournament featuring MLS and Mexican League teams.
Miami will conclude the group stage of the event on Wednesday against Pumas.
Messi led Inter Miami to the inaugural Leagues Cup title in 2023 shortly after joining the MLS club.
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