Video: Lionel Messi forced off with muscle injury in Inter Miami vs. Necaxa Leagues Cup clash

Inter Miami hosted Necaxa at Chase Stadium for their second Leagues Cup appearance, coming off a win over Club Atlas. But early in the match, the spotlight shifted from competition to concern, as star forward Lionel Messi was forced off the pitch with a muscle injury.

Messi, who had been one of the most active players in the opening minutes, appeared to pull up after a challenge while driving the ball forward. The Argentine clutched his right hamstring following contact with Raul Sanchez, and just moments later—around the 8th minute—he went to ground, signaling for medical attention.

Despite receiving treatment, Messi was unable to continue, prompting head coach Javier Mascherano to substitute him in the 11th minute. Midfielder Federico Redondo came on in his place, and within a minute of the change, Inter Miami took the lead thanks to a clinical finish from Telasco Segovia.

As play continued, cameras caught Messi walking unaided through the tunnel back to the locker room, escorted by members of the coaching and medical staff. The fact that he was able to walk off under his own power brought some relief to fans, suggesting the injury might not be as serious as initially feared.

‘Messi Cam’ loses steam after injury exit

Matchday 2 of the Leagues Cup also marked the return of “Messi Cam“—a special live stream that follows the Argentine star exclusively throughout the match. With Necaxa being the first of four Leagues Cup games featuring the dedicated feed, expectations were high, especially after the feature drew over six million live viewers during its debut.

However, Messi’s early exit changed the dynamic. As fans tuned in across MLS, Apple TV, and Inter Miami’s TikTok official channels, viewership took a noticeable hit once Messi left the field. By the end of the first half, combined live viewers across platforms had reached just 37,000—a respectable figure, but well short of the lofty pre-match projections.