FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi has strained his left hamstring, an injury that could put him in doubt for the reigning MLS Cup champions’ regular-season opener Feb. 21 at LAFC.
The team announced the injury on Wednesday.
Messi, MLS’s MVP for the second consecutive year, scored in a preseason game in Ecuador last weekend, but was taken off about 12 minutes into the second half, likely due to a hamstring issue.
“His gradual return to training will depend on his clinical and functional progress over the next few days,” Inter Miami said in a statement.
Due to this injury, what was supposed to be Inter Miami’s final preseason game will be played about a week after the opening MLS game. Inter Miami will face Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle on February 26th in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and a public training session will also be scheduled as part of the trip.
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