Lionel Messi took the field one final time Sunday night for Inter Miami CF before the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup begins next month.
Despite rainy and difficult conditions, Inter Miami secured a 6-4 victory over the Philadelphia Union, but the main focus quickly shifted to Messi after he exited in the 73rd minute with an apparent leg injury.
Messi walked off under his own power, which appeared to be an encouraging sign, but he quickly signaled toward the bench before being replaced by Mateo Silvetti and heading straight to the locker room.
The biggest concern now centers around Messi’s availability for what many hope will be his sixth World Cup appearance with Argentina, though his status has not yet been confirmed with roughly three weeks remaining before group play begins.
More news: World Cup Ticket Prices Plunge for USMNT Games
More news: Ronaldo Rules the Rich List: The Top 5 Highest-Paid Athletes Revealed
According to Polymarket, an active prediction market, Messi’s odds of playing in the World Cup were above 95% before the injury.
While those odds remain high, they reportedly dropped six percent within minutes following the incident, and could decline further depending on the severity of the injury.
Argentina is looking to defend its 2022 World Cup title, a tournament in which Lionel Messi played a pivotal role during Argentina’s iconic championship victory over France.
They’re set to compete in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.
More news: Mamdani Secures $50 World Cup Tickets Amid FIFA’s Pricing Backlash
Read the full article here
