Lionel Messi left Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Mexican side Necaxa after just 10 minutes on Saturday with what appeared to be a leg injury.
The incident began four minutes earlier when Messi collided with Necaxa defender Alexis Pena near the visitors’ penalty area at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The 38-year-old tried to continue but needed treatment from Miami’s medical staff on the field. He then walked slowly to the sideline and headed to the dressing room, making way for fellow Argentine Federico Redondo.
Moments after Messi’s exit, Miami took the lead. New signing Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s teammate from Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad, assisted Venezuelan forward Talasco Segovia, who scored with a powerful strike from outside the box. It was De Paul’s first assist for the club.
However, Miami’s momentum quickly shifted when defender Maximiliano Falcon received a straight red card in the 17th minute. Necaxa used their advantage to level the score before halftime.
Miami, last year’s Leagues Cup champion, opened their 2025 campaign with a 2-1 win over Atlas on Wednesday. They will complete the first stage of the tournament on August 6 against UNAM Pumas, with all 18 MLS clubs and all 18 Liga MX teams taking part.