Jon ArnoldLionel Messi left Inter Miami's final match before the World Cup in the 73rd minute, asking for a substitution and heading directly to the locker room after coming off the field.
The 38-year-old appeared to feel something in his left leg, touching the back of it. He had made a run in the 69th minute but stopped before he crossed into the penalty area. Moments later, he pulled his shorts up and walked over to the Inter Miami bench as play continued, chatting with the staff. Soon after, he was replaced by Mateo Silvetti in the 73rd minute.
Leia no AINotícia: Resumo: Ebola no Congo, Condenação e Maiara em Missa Leia também: Argentino é Detido Maria Fumaça em MG
This is the final Inter Miami match before MLS takes a long break for the World Cup, taking place in North America this summer. He is expected to join the Argentina national team to assist in the team's 2022 World Cup title defense, though there now will be concerns about the fitness of a player who still is Argentina's most important despite likely playing in his final World Cup.
Messi rarely is substituted from matches, having played all 90 minutes in the 13 previous MLS matches he'd played in this season, and also going the full 90 in both Concacaf Champions Cup contests and one of Argentina's March friendly games. He played just one half of the first March friendly, a win over Mauritania.
It was a wild match in which Messi registered an assist to help Miami rally from an early 2-0 deficit win defeat the Philadelphia Union, 6-4. The 10 goals scored between both teams made it the highest-scoring match of the MLS season thus far, topping five matches this season that had seen eight goals combined. Mais de noticia
The Albiceleste play Honduras in a June 6 friendly and Iceland in a match on June 9 before their World Cup opener against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium. Leia também: Resumo: Ebola no Congo, Condenação e Maiara em Missa
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
