The absence of Argentine star Lionel Messi from Inter Miami's training session on Wednesday sparked widespread concern among the club and its fans, as the legend is suffering from a hamstring strain in his left leg. This injury not only affected the team's preparations but also forced the club to postpone its friendly match scheduled in Puerto Rico, highlighting the magnitude of the crisis that can be caused by the absence of a player of Messi's stature.
Inter Miami's captain suffered an injury during last Saturday's friendly against Ecuadorian side Barcelona Guayaquil, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Although the initial diagnosis pointed to muscle strain, Messi underwent further medical tests to determine the severity of the injury and the expected duration of his absence. In an official statement, Messi said, "Unfortunately, I felt some muscle tightness in the last match," confirming the nature of the discomfort that caused him to miss training.
General context: Messi's immediate impact on American football
Since joining Inter Miami in the summer of 2013, Lionel Messi has truly revolutionized Major League Soccer (MLS). His impact hasn't been limited to raising the team's technical level; he led them to their first-ever league title, winning the MLS Cup. The "Messi effect" has extended throughout the league, with ticket sales soaring, streaming subscriptions increasing, and global interest in the competition skyrocketing. This heavy reliance on the Argentine superstar means that any injury to him would be a devastating blow not only to the club but to the entire system.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
Domestically, Inter Miami relies almost entirely on Messi to lead the team to titles, a fact made painfully clear at the end of last season when his injury caused the team's results to plummet and prevented them from qualifying for the playoffs. Regionally and internationally, his absence represents a commercial and marketing crisis. The friendly match against Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico has been postponed to February 26, much to the disappointment of fans who bought tickets to see the World Cup winner. Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, addressed the Puerto Rican fans, saying, "We know how excited you are and how eager you are to see Inter Miami play, and we would be delighted if that could happen soon.".
Messi's return to the pitch remains uncertain, with the club stating that his gradual return to training "will depend on the improvement of his physical and functional condition in the coming days." With the new MLS season set to kick off against Los Angeles FC on February 21, all eyes are on Inter Miami's medical staff, hoping for a swift return for the legend who transformed North American football.
