Lionel Messi shock before the World Cup: Injured

This 2026 World Cup will be the last tournament for many iconic players. At the top of the list are two of the greatest legends in recent soccer history: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi continues to shine for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and will be looking to win a second consecutive World Cup with Argentina. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, is one of the favorites to win the trophy with Portugal at this summer's tournament in the United States after winning the Saudi Arabia title.

But Argentina was hit with bad news last night. Many of the Albiceleste fans probably couldn't sleep well. That's because Messi was forced to come off during Inter Miami's 6-4 win over Philadelphia on Sunday night. In the 73rd minute, the star footballer was seen holding his left leg and suffering from a muscle problem.

Great concern in Argentina

Lionel Scaloni's team will start their World Cup adventure in about three weeks' time. Argentina will face Algeria on the night between June 16 and June 17. For this reason, Messi's problem has caused great concern in the country.

According to Olé newspaper, the problem is in the back muscle area. In the news, it was stated that Messi was also tired before the match. After the match, Inter Miami Technical Director Guillermo Hoyos did not give clear information about the status of the star player's injury. However, it was seen that the coach was also worried.

According to TyC Sports, Messi asked to leave the game himself to avoid putting more strain on his muscle and risking a more serious injury that could cause him to miss the World Cup.

In any case, Messi will undergo medical checks during the day. The situation will become clearer after the tests. Until then, one country in Argentina and millions of Messi fans around the world are holding their breath.