Inter Miami substitution raises World Cup fitness questions for Messi

Lionel Messi requested a substitution in the 72nd minute of Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer match against Philadelphia Union on Sunday, prompting scrutiny regarding his physical condition weeks before Argentina’s campaign to defend their FIFA World Cup title. The 38-year-old appeared to feel his left hamstring and walked off the pitch in the 73rd minute, replaced by teammate Mateo Silvetti. Inter Miami secured a 6-4 victory in the fixture.

The incident occurred during the final MLS match before a seven-week league break designed to allow players to prepare for international duty. Messi, who has missed only one game for Inter Miami during the current season, gestured to the coaching staff and was replaced. Video footage from the tunnel showed him walking towards the dressing room without medical assistance and without limping, though he moved slowly and did not join his teammates on the bench.

Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos described the substitution as a precautionary measure, citing fatigue and pitch conditions. He noted that a medical report was pending to determine the exact nature of the discomfort. "As far as I know, we don’t have a medical report on that yet, but we will have one shortly," Hoyos said, emphasising that the decision was part of an overall approach to not take risks with the squad’s key player.

Teammate Mateo Silvetti expressed hope that the issue was not serious but admitted he was unaware of the specific reason for the substitution. Inter Miami’s official social media match recap highlighted Luis Suarez’s hat-trick and Rodrigo De Paul’s goal but made no mention of Messi’s substitution or the injury scare. Messi has a history of hamstring problems, which previously caused him to miss parts of Miami’s preseason campaign.

Argentina’s World Cup squad is due to be announced next week. The team is scheduled to play pre-World Cup friendlies against Honduras on June 6 and Iceland on June 9 before their group stage matches against Algeria on June 16, Austria on June 22, and Jordan on June 27. Messi is widely expected to make a record-equalling sixth appearance at the tournament, having previously stated he would only play if he were healthy and fit.