There is one aspect related to Lionel Messi that may raise concerns—not only within the Argentina National Team but also at the club level, especially with the magnitude of the event approaching this summer: the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

On Tuesday night, the world champions were pushed to the limit. Although they managed to salvage a draw against Colombia, what drew the most attention was seeing Argentine star Lionel Messi leave the field after Enzo Fernández was sent off.

Scaloni reveals details about Messi's substitution

The turning point came when the Chelsea player received a red card for raising his leg too high in a contested ball with Kevin Castaño. Soon after, a surprising change followed: the number “10” appeared on the board to be subbed off, with Argentina trailing after a goal from Luis Díaz.

Many wondered if Messi’s physical condition played a role in the decision. In the post-match interview after the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier, head coach Lionel Scaloni shed some light.

"Leo wasn’t going to come off, but ended up doing so near the end," Scaloni explained.
"He told me it was better for him to come off, so we decided to make the change. What’s positive is that even with 10 men and without Messi, we kept competing. That makes us very satisfied."

Inter Miami on alert over Lionel Messi’s physical condition

This substitution has set off alarms at Inter Miami CF, the team set to kick off the 2025 Club World Cup. The worst-case scenario for the MLS club would be confirmation that the Argentine star is not in optimal condition to participate in the tournament. Messi is the club’s standout figure, and his absence would be a major blow to their ambitions.

On the other hand, the Argentina National Team would also take a significant hit. Even though they’ve already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, their goal is to have their top player at peak form. With just one year left before the next World Cup, Lionel Messi’s physical condition is becoming one of the coaching staff’s top concerns.