[Official] Messi collapses just before the World Cup; diagnosed with hamstring muscle fatigue and overload

*This content was translated by AI.

Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami), who was substituted due to injury during his final match with his club ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, has been diagnosed with overload related to hamstring muscle fatigue.

Inter Miami announced on the 26th (Korean time) via its official channels: "Additional medical examinations for Messi, who left the field complaining of discomfort during the match against Philadelphia Union, resulted in an initial diagnosis of overload related to hamstring muscle fatigue on the left side. The timing of his return to play will be determined based on his future recovery progress."

Earlier, Messi started in the 2026 U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) home match against Philadelphia at NU Stadium in Miami, Florida, on the previous day. However, with the score tied 4-4 in the second half, he signaled for his own substitution at the 28th minute and left the field. At the time, Messi reported pain in the back of his left leg.

Given Messi's history of hamstring injuries and the fact that several players have already missed the World Cup due to similar hamstring issues, attention has focused on whether Messi can participate in the tournament. As this tournament effectively serves as Messi's "World Cup Last Dance," he was scheduled to join the Argentina national team immediately after the Philadelphia match.

While global football attention has been fixed on the severity of Messi's injury, fortunately, the initial diagnosis by Inter Miami indicated only overload due to fatigue, not a serious injury such as a muscle tear. This has allowed both Messi and the football world, including Argentina, to breathe a sigh of relief.

Argentine media outlet Lider en Deporte reported: "Inter Miami's announcement has alleviated concerns from the Argentina coaching staff led by coach Lionel Scaloni. As a result, Argentina can now use Messi from the World Cup opener against Algeria on the 16th of next month. However, whether Messi will participate in the pre-World Cup friendly matches against Honduras or Iceland, given his significant physical burden, remains uncertain."

Argentina is in World Cup group stage Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Although the final roster has not yet been announced, Messi is set to participate in his sixth consecutive World Cup, having appeared in every tournament since the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

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*This content was translated by AI.