Lionel Messi suffered an early injury scare on Saturday, leaving the field in the 11th minute of Inter Miami’s dramatic Leagues Cup penalty shootout victory over Mexico’s Necaxa at Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale. The 38-year-old Argentine appeared to have discomfort in his upper right leg or groin and headed to the locker room under his own power after brief treatment. Miami coach Javier Mascherano said the exact nature and severity of the injury would be known on Sunday, noting that Messi “was really not in pain” but “did feel a pull.”
The injury occurred after Messi stumbled while driving into Necaxa’s defence and later went down unchallenged near midfield. He was replaced by Federico Redondo as the Herons battled through a tense contest. Inter Miami, reduced to 10 men after Maximiliano Falcón’s 17th-minute red card, took the lead through Telasco Segovia in the 12th minute, only for Necaxa’s Tomás Badaloni to equalise in the 33rd. Necaxa were also cut to 10 men in the 60th minute, and Ricardo Monreal put the visitors ahead in the 81st before Jordi Alba struck a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser for Miami.
The match ended 2-2 in regulation, leading to a penalty shootout in which Miami triumphed 5-4. Luis Suárez scored the decisive kick after Badaloni missed for Necaxa. Rodrigo De Paul, Ben Cremaschi, Alba, and Redondo also converted for Miami. The Herons, who lifted the inaugural Leagues Cup trophy last year, face Pumas next in the group stage. Messi, who has been in prolific form with 18 goals and nine assists in 18 MLS games this season, will now await medical assessment to determine if he can continue in the tournament.
