Lionel Messi's time on the pitch against Necaxa in Matchday 2 of the Leagues Cup lasted just 11 minutes. The world champion was substituted after feeling discomfort that appeared to be related to a muscular issue.

The match, held in the United States, started normally, but Messi suffered a knock early on that visibly affected him. He attempted to continue and even tried a short sprint, but his body didn’t respond as expected. Seconds later, he sat on the turf and immediately requested a substitution.

Redondo Replaces Messi as Miami Holds Its Breath

Federico Redondo, a fellow Argentine, came on to replace Messi following the decision of head coach Javier Mascherano. Notably, Messi left the field walking under his own power, without needing medical assistance, which may be a positive sign for his recovery outlook.

Unlike other players who try to push through pain, Messi chose caution and left the match to avoid worsening the problem. An official medical update has yet to be released, but Inter Miami is expected to share details soon regarding the severity of the injury and his potential return timeline.

Messi's Impact in the Previous Match

This setback comes just after Lionel Messi played a pivotal role in Inter Miami’s 2-1 comeback win over Atlas in their Leagues Cup opener. In that game, the former Barcelona and PSG superstar delivered two assists, reaffirming his crucial role within the squad.

With the knockout stage approaching, Inter Miami will be hoping for a speedy recovery for their captain.