Messi, injured, misses friendly in Puerto Rico; Inter Miami reschedules

Miami, USA. – Lionel Messi, the Argentinian star, will not be able to participate in the friendly match that Inter Miami CF had scheduled in Puerto Rico.The absence is due to a muscle injury sustained during a recent preseason match in Ecuador.

Injury and Suspension from the Match

The match, which was to be held at the Juan Ramón Loubriel stadium in Bayamón against Independiente del Valle, was canceled after a strain in Messi’s left hamstring was confirmed.The injury occurred during the match against Barcelona SC, where Messi had to leave the field.The forward shared a message on his social media explaining that, due to the injury, the decision was made to postpone the friendly as a precautionary measure.The message was aimed especially at the Puerto Rican fans who were hoping to see him play.

International Tour and Next Steps

The friendly was part of the “Champions Tour”, an international tour that took the MLS team through cities like Lima, Medellín, and Guayaquil.The team will return to the United States to finalize preparations for the start of the 2026 season.Although a recovery time has not been specified, the suspension will give Messi more time to recover before the team’s official debut in the MLS, scheduled for February 21.Inter Miami has confirmed that the friendly match has been rescheduled for February 26, against the same opponent and in the same location.