Messi suffered an injury and exited early in the 10th minute of Inter Miami's victory against Necaxa on 2/8. Coach Javier Mascherano downplayed the severity of the injury, anticipating a swift return. However, the club remains cautious about the 38-year-old forward's recovery.
Although unable to play, the Argentinian superstar attended the match with his family.
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Lionel Messi with his wife and son at Lockhart Stadium in Florida, USA, on 6/8, watching Inter Miami defeat Pumas UNAM 3-1.Imagn Images |
Lionel Messi with his wife and son at Lockhart Stadium in Florida, USA, on 6/8, watching Inter Miami defeat Pumas UNAM 3-1.Imagn Images
Pumas UNAM took a surprising lead in the 34th minute with a close-range goal by Jorge Ruvalcaba. However, Messi's teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, stepped up to secure the win for Inter Miami.
In the 45th minute, Suarez delivered a cross from the left wing to De Paul, who controlled the ball and scored with a diagonal shot to equalize at 1-1. In the second half, Suarez scored a panenka penalty and then assisted Tadeo Allende to seal the 3-1 victory.
Messi's latest injury follows a demanding schedule for both club and country. Prior to the Necaxa match, he played the full 90 minutes in 10 consecutive matches since 14/6, including four FIFA Club World Cup games, five MLS matches, and the Leagues Cup opener against Atlas on 30/7, which Inter Miami won 2-1.
His only break during this period was the friendly match between the MLS All-Stars and the Liga MX All-Stars on 24/7, a decision that resulted in a one-match suspension.
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Rodrigo De Paul (left) celebrates his goal with Luis Suarez.Imagn Images |
Rodrigo De Paul (left) celebrates his goal with Luis Suarez.Imagn Images
The 2025 Leagues Cup features a new format where group stage draws are decided by penalty shootouts. Each team receives one point for a draw, with the penalty shootout winner earning an additional point for a total of two. The shootout loser retains their single point.
In the group stage, Inter Miami defeated Atlas 2-1 and Pumas UNAM 3-1, and drew with Necaxa 2-2 before winning 5-4 on penalties. This gave Mascherano's team eight points, securing their place in the quarterfinals.
Inter Miami's next opponent will be determined after the group stage concludes. They will play their quarterfinal match on 19/8 or 20/8 at Chase Field in Fort Lauderdale.
The 2025 Leagues Cup includes 36 teams: 18 from MLS (USA and Canada) and 18 from Liga MX (Mexico). Each team plays three matches against opponents from the other league.
Instead of fixed groups, the tournament uses two aggregate tables—one for MLS clubs and one for Liga MX clubs. After three group stage matches, the top four teams from each table advance to the quarterfinals. Inter Miami currently leads the MLS table with five points.
In 2023, Inter Miami won their first Leagues Cup title, which was also Messi's first trophy in the USA. They failed to defend their title in 2024, losing to Columbus Crew in the round of 16.
Hong Duy
