Inter Miami Say Messi Out Indefinitely With \u2018Minor Muscle Injury\u2019
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Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi will be sidelined indefinitely with what the MLS team described as a \u201cminor muscle injury in his right leg\u201d in a statement on Sunday.<\/strong><\/p>\n The 38-year-old Argentine legend suffered an upper right leg injury early in Miami\u2019s penalty-kicks home win over Mexico\u2019s Necaxa on Saturday in a Leagues Cup match.<\/span><\/p>\n Messi went out in the 11th minute but walked off the field and into the locker room.<\/span><\/p>\n Messi \u201cunderwent medical tests to evaluate the extent of the muscle discomfort he experienced,\u201d which forced him out of the match, Inter Miami said in its statement.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe results confirmed a minor muscle injury in his right leg. His medical clearance will depend on his clinical progress and response to treatment,\u201d the club said.<\/span><\/p>\n That means there is no timetable for a return by the Miami talisman, who shares the MLS season lead with 18 goals and also has nine assists in 18 matches.<\/span><\/p>\n Jordi Alba, who netted an equaliser for Miami in second-half stoppage time to set up the penalty shootout the hosts won 5-4, said Messi\u2019s early exit was \u201ca huge sadness for the whole team\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Inter Miami is <\/span>12-4<\/span> with <\/span>six drawn for<\/span> 42 points, fifth in the Eastern Conference and eight points <\/span>adrift of<\/span> league pace-setter Philadelphia but with three matches in hand.<\/span><\/p>\n Any extended absence also would be a major blow for Miami in the Leagues Cup, which Inter won in 2023 just after Messi arrived in South Florida.<\/span><\/p>\n Miami, which will host UNAM Pumas on Wednesday, ranks second on the MLS table to qualify for the Leagues Cup knockout stage with five points and would clinch a quarter-final berth with a victory.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n