Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi will be out indefinitely due to a minor muscle injury in his right leg, the MLS club confirmed in a statement.
The 38-year-old Argentine star sustained the injury early in Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Mexico’s Necaxa on Saturday. He left the game in the 11th minute but was able to walk off the field unaided.
“Medical tests confirmed a minor muscle injury in his right leg,” the club stated. “His return will depend on his clinical progress and response to treatment.”
There is currently no set timeline for Messi’s return. He leads the MLS season with 18 goals and nine assists in 18 matches.
Teammate Jordi Alba, who scored a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time to force a penalty shootout Miami won 5–4, called Messi’s early exit “a huge sadness for the whole team.”
Miami, which faces UNAM Pumas on Wednesday, sits second in their Leagues Cup group with five points and will secure a quarterfinal spot with a win.