Lionel Messi picked up an injury just 11 minutes into Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup clash against Necaxa on Saturday night and was taken off the pitch.
The 38-year-old Argentine star seemed to feel pain in his upper right leg or groin and left the field on his own, walking slowly to the locker room. The game was played at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Inter Miami coach, Javier Mascherano, told reporters after the match that the team would not know how serious the injury was until the next day.
“Well, he felt a discomfort, and we will not be able to know until tomorrow how severe the injury is,” Mascherano said. “There’s probably something there. Maybe not as important, because he was really not in pain. But he did feel a pull.”
Messi first fell after colliding with Necaxa defender Alexis Pena near the edge of the box. He got back up, but minutes later, he sat alone on the pitch, lying on his back until trainers came. Mascherano quickly brought in Federico Redondo to replace him.
Despite the early setback, Inter Miami went on to win 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in full time.
Telasco Segovia gave Miami the lead in the 12th minute, but the team went down to 10 men after defender Maximiliano Falcon was shown a red card just five minutes later.
Necaxa’s Tomas Badaloni equalised in the 33rd minute, and they were also reduced to 10 men when Cristian Calderon was sent off in the 60th minute.
Substitute Ricardo Monreal then gave Necaxa the lead in the 81st minute, but Jordi Alba equalised for Miami deep into stoppage time to force penalties.
Messi, who recently dealt with a thigh problem during the World Cup qualifiers in March, has scored 18 goals and made nine assists in 18 league games this season. He also assisted both goals in Miami’s 2-1 win over Atlas in their Leagues Cup opener on Wednesday.
Inter Miami will face Pumas in their final group match on Wednesday.
