Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi left the field with a possible leg injury during a 6-4 home victory against the Philadelphia Union on Sunday night. The incident occurred in the 70th minute when the two-time reigning MLS MVP was seen grabbing at his left thigh after a free kick.
Messi requested a substitution and exited the match shortly after being replaced by Mateo Silvetti. Despite the injury scare, the 28-year-old was able to walk off the pitch unaided. This season, Messi leads the league with 20 goal contributions, including 12 goals and eight assists, over 14 matches. In his fourth season with Inter Miami, he has tallied 107 goal contributions—62 goals and 45 assists—in 67 games.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) will enter a six-week break following Sunday’s matches, in anticipation of the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on June 11 and concludes on July 19. Messi is anticipated to represent Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, although the final squad has not yet been announced. Argentina’s first match in Group J is set for June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City. To prepare for group play, Argentina will hold friendly matches against Honduras on June 6 at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field and against Iceland on June 9 at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.