Miami: With just days left before the FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi's injury scare has left Argentina fans deeply concerned. The player showed signs of injury and left the pitch during a match against Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer (MLS), the premier football league in the United States.

It was in the 71st minute of the match between Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union that Messi experienced discomfort in his left thigh. He immediately signalled to the dugout requesting to be substituted and subsequently left the pitch in the 73rd minute. The star player walked back to the dressing room under his own power. Messi's exit came after a stellar performance in which he provided two assists. Inter Miami won the high-scoring match 6–4, which saw a total of 10 goals.

Messi displaying signs of injury with only days to go before the World Cup is a major setback for Argentina. However, it remains unclear whether the injury is serious or if Messi chose to substitute himself merely as a precautionary measure. Defending champions Argentina are placed in Group J alongside Algeria, Jordan and Australia.

Meanwhile, what has heightened the anxiety among fans is the fact that upon being substituted, Messi went straight to the dressing room rather than heading to the team bench. No official update has been released regarding the nature of his injury yet. Nevertheless, journalists who regularly travel with the Argentine national team have reported that Messi has not sustained a serious injury.

According to these reports, Messi chose to withdraw from the match himself as a precaution, taking into account the poor weather conditions and the dampness of the pitch.

Agencies