Updated: 25 May 2026 14:12 BST |
3 min read
There are concerns over the fitness of Lionel Messi ahead of the 2026 World Cup after the Argentine was forced off injured on Sunday.
Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union played out one of the most entertaining games of the Major League Soccer season so far, with the latter running out 6-4 winners. Luis Suarez was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick, as Miami made it four wins on the bounce in the Eastern Conference.
The headlines after the match were all about Messi, though, as he had to be withdrawn in the 73rd minute by head coach Guillermo Hoyos after clutching the back of his leg in pain.
Thankfully for Miami and Argentina, the issue does not appear to be anything serious as Hoyos would later say it was a precautionary change.
“As far as I know, we don’t have a [medical] report on that yet, but he really was fatigued,” he assured said after the game when asked about Messi’s withdrawal.
“He was tired; the pitch was heavy and when in doubt, the standard approach is always to ensure you don’t take any risks.”
Even if the former Barcelona superstar is not suffering from a serious injury, he is 38-years-old now and so any niggling issue may indeed impact him in preparations for the World Cup.
If he’s suffering from fatigue, that’s a major issue for La Albiceleste.
Messi not yet confirmed for 2026 World Cup
Argentina are defending World Cup defending champions, having claimed the famous gold trophy in Qatar in 2022.
Messi will again be key to their chances of winning, but the man himself hasn’t yet confirmed he’ll be participating.
“I don’t want to be a burden, so to speak,” the 38-year-old previously told Sport.
“I want to feel physically fit, to be sure I can help and contribute to the team. Our season is different from the European one. We’ll have a pre-season in between, with few matches leading up to the World Cup, and we’ll see how things go day by day to see if I really feel physically fit enough to be where I’d like to be and be able to participate.
“But obviously, I’m aware that it’s a World Cup, and it’s special, and that the World Cup is the biggest competition there is. So, I’m excited, but I’m taking it one day at a time.”
Argentina legend Javier Zanetti said that he is in no doubt that Messi will participate in the tournament, however.
“That has to be his decision, but I think yes,” Zanetti told FourFourTwo when asked if Messi will be at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“There are only a few months to go, and I believe he also wants to represent his country again. I have no doubt it will happen.”
The Argentina squad will be announced by head coach Lionel Scaloni next week.
Should we see Messi at the World Cup, we could be treated to another memory of his famous celebration, pointing to the sky.
If we don’t see it in real life again, you can keep your own memory of it with LEGO’s official Lionel Messi Argentina celebration set.
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is set to be the biggest tournament in the competition’s history, and LEGO© is tapping into football fever with a new range designed for supporters, collectors and younger fans alike.
