Lionel Messi practices with Inter Miami ahead of crucial Club World Cup match
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Lionel Messi practiced with his Inter Miami teammates on Sunday, three days after experiencing some right leg discomfort during their historic win in the FIFA Club World Cup.
It's unclear to what extent Messi practiced with Inter Miami – media was allowed to observe the first 15 minutes of the training session.
Still, it's a positive development for Messi – who acknowledged the injury in his thigh/quadricep region has been a recurring one he has managed late in his career, particularly with Inter Miami.
Inter Miami can clinch a trip to the Club World Cup knockout stage on Monday, June 23 against Brazilian club Pameiras at 9 p.m. in Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. The match will be available to watch on TBS/TruTV in English in the United States, and available to live stream for free on DAZN.
Inter Miami could advance with a win or draw, but could need some help if they lose the match.
"I've had a problem with that for a while now," Messi said in an interview with DSports after the club's 2-1 match against FC Porto at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday. "It did bother me a little bit, but it's something I've had before, something I've been dealing with."
Messi scored a dynamic free-kick goal in the 54th minute to propel Inter Miami to the first victory for a North American team over a European club against Porto, a Portuguese team. It was also the 50th goal he scored since joining Inter Miami in July 2023.
Shortly after, Messi made a run on a ball after an up-field pass by Benjamin Cremaschi in the 57th minute. He was seen touching his right thigh and stretching the muscle near midfield in a stoppage during the 59th and 60th minutes of the match.
An Inter Miami trainer also massaged Messi's thigh above the knee on the pitch, while defender Marcelo Weigandt was treated for an injury in the 62nd minute.
Messi finished the Porto match, with Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano acknowledging Messi's will to play despite the discomfort.
Mascherano will have a pre-match press conference later Sunday evening before the Palmeiras match.
Inter Miami essential has one foot already into the knockout stage, but can't afford to rest Messi in the final group-stage match.
If they manage to beat Palmeiras, they would win Group A. If they draw with Palmeiras, they would enter the round of 16 as a group runner-up. If they lose, they need Porto to beat Egyptian side Al Ahly to advance.
If Inter Miami loses and Al Ahly wins, Inter Miami would need to rely on goal difference or other tiebreakers if Al Ahly doesn't win in blowout fashion.
"I think the team is focused on winning, on doing the best they can," Inter Miami leftback Jordi Alba said before Sunday's practice. "We've never gone into a game without the intention of winning, and that's the mindset of everyone – to try to win, to play well like we did against Porto. And from there, hopefully that will be the case, and we can go through in first place."
Messi has dealt with a thigh/adductor injury at least three times in the last two years.
Messi had a low-grade injury in his left adductor muscle earlier this season, revealed after an MRI following a March 16 match against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The injury caused him to miss two World Cup qualifying matches with Argentina during the month. He returned to action on March 29 and scored a goal in Inter Miami's win against the Philadelphia Union.
Messi had his right groin/adductor area massaged by a trainer during Argentina's second group-stage match during last summer's Copa America on June 26, 2024. He rested in Argentina's last group-stage match on June 29, 2024, because they had already secured a berth to the quarterfinals. He returned to action in the knockout stage on July 4, 2024. He played until Argentina reached the final against Colombia on July 14, 2024, where he suffered a severe right ankle injury that sidelined him until his return on Sept. 14, 2024.
Messi also experienced an adductor injury during Inter Miami's international preseason tour before the 2024 season. Messi left an exhibition against Al-Hilal on Jan. 29, and briefly played with the injury against Al-Nassr on Feb. 1, 2024, when Inter Miami played in Saudi Arabia. He did not play during a friendly in Hong Kong on Feb. 4, 2024, but returned to action for a friendly in Japan on Feb. 7, 2024. He appeared fully healthy for a preseason match against his Argentine boyhood club Newell's Old Boys on Feb. 15, 2024.
If Inter Miami advances to the Club World Cup round of 16 after the Palmeiras match, it would play on either June 28 in Philadelphia (if it wins Group A) or June 29 in Atlanta (if it is the group runner-up).
If Inter Miami is eliminated from the Club World Cup, its next match will be June 28 vs. Atlanta United at home in a return to the Major League Soccer regular season.
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