Written by: Badr Ahmed

Football fans around the world are anxiously awaiting news on the physical condition of Argentine star Lionel Messi, after he suffered an injury during his team Inter Miami’s match against Philadelphia Union in the American Football League, raising widespread concerns about his readiness for upcoming events, most notably the 2026 World Cup.

Doubts surround Messi's participation in the 2026 World Cup after a thigh injury.

The match, which ended in a big 6-4 victory for Inter Miami on Sunday night, witnessed a worrying moment when Messi felt obvious pain in his upper left thigh in the 70th minute, before requesting to be substituted, something that is rare for the Argentine star who is used to completing most matches until the end.

Messi left the field and headed straight to the dressing room without needing assistance, with Mateo Silveti replacing him, in a scene that raised questions about the severity of the injury, especially with the final preparations for the 2026 World Cup approaching.

Despite Inter Miami's big win, attention was completely focused on Messi's health, especially since his participation in the upcoming World Cup was not yet decided and was directly linked to his physical readiness during the preparatory period.

The Argentine star had previously stated that he was striving to maintain his physical fitness on a daily basis in order to secure a chance to participate in the World Cup, stressing that he would undergo continuous assessment of his physical condition before making his final decision.

He indicated that he is focusing on gradual preparation with his club, Inter Miami, to avoid any injuries that might affect his chances of participating in the tournament, which represents an important milestone in his football career.

In the same context, his teammate in the national team, Rodrigo De Paul, revealed that Messi had adhered to an intensive training program during the past period, which included morning and evening training sessions, in cooperation with the technical staff at the club, with the aim of reaching the best possible physical level before the start of the World Cup.

De Paul explained that these preparations were part of a well-thought-out plan to improve physical readiness, given the pressure of matches and the intensity of the schedule during the current season.

The previous and current coaching staff of Inter Miami also worked very carefully to manage Messi’s physical workload, especially during the busy periods of matches in which the team played several games in a short period of time.

Messi's health remains under close monitoring by the medical staff, the club and the Argentine national team, awaiting the results of medical tests that will determine his participation in upcoming matches, amid great global anticipation for the fate of one of the greatest football players in history.