Lionel Messi will be out for an indefinite period due to a right ankle ligament injury, Inter Miami announced on Tuesday, two days after the Argentine star’s emotional early exit during the Copa América final. His availability will be determined based on his recovery progress.
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino told reporters earlier on Tuesday that Messi would likely miss at least the next two games, against Toronto on Wednesday and Chicago on Saturday. Martino mentioned that further tests were needed to determine the severity of the injury, and the team later announced that Messi had undergone a medical evaluation.
The Argentina and Inter Miami captain appeared to slip on the Hard Rock Stadium field in Miami during Sunday’s final, which Argentina won against Colombia after Lautaro Martínez’s goal in extra time.
Messi fell without contact from another player and was shown on the Fox broadcast sobbing on the bench with his ankle wrapped in ice after leaving midway through the second half. The former FC Barcelona star called for medical assistance after his fall, and staff briefly treated him on the field before he left with his right boot removed. He returned to the field after the match to lift the trophy alongside his teammates as Argentina secured a record 16th Copa América title, likely Messi’s last appearance in the tournament.
Nicknamed « La Pulga, » Messi has 187 caps for his country, scoring 109 goals and providing 58 assists, all Argentine records. This victory marks his third major tournament win as a senior international after the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup. He also won an Olympic gold medal in the under-23 category at the Beijing Games in 2008. Messi had scored 12 goals in 12 MLS appearances this season before the Copa América tournament.
