Spanish
MIAMI, USA – The Argentinian star Lionel Messi will not be able to be present in the friendly match that Inter Miami CF had planned to play in Puerto Rico, after suffering a muscle injury during the club's most recent preseason match in Ecuador.
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The match, scheduled at the Juan Ramón Loubriel stadium in Bayamón against Independiente del Valle, was suspended after it was confirmed that the captain of the Argentine national team suffers from a muscle strain in his left hamstring. The discomfort occurred in the match against Barcelona SC, a game in which Messi had to leave the field. Through a video posted on his social media, the forward explained that, after the blow received, the organization and the club decided to postpone the commitment as a preventive measure. The message was especially addressed to the Puerto Rican fans who were hoping to see him both in training and in the match. The friendly was part of the “Champions Tour”, an international tour that took the MLS team through cities like Lima, Medellín and Guayaquil, before returning to the United States to finalize details for the start of the 2026 season. Although the club did not offer a specific recovery timeframe, the suspension of the match will allow Messi to have several additional days for his rehabilitation before the team's official debut in the MLS, scheduled for February 21. As positive news for fans on the island, Inter Miami confirmed that the friendly was rescheduled for February 26, against the same rival and in the same venue. "We are aware of the expectation that exists and it will be very nice to be able to play there soon," expressed Messi, who reiterated his desire to appear before the Puerto Rican fans on the new established date.
