After just a few minutes, Lionel Messi’s Leagues Cup match against Mexican club Necaxa was over due to injury. His team still won, though.
Messi had to be substituted after just a few minutes of Inter’s League Cup victory on penalties. The 38-year-old Argentine world champion suffered an injury while dribbling against several Necaxa players. He continued to play for a short time but then received treatment on his right thigh.
He was substituted in the eleventh minute and left the pitch without limping noticeably. “There’s probably something there,” said Messi’s coach Javier Mascherano: “Maybe nothing serious, because he wasn’t in a lot of pain. But he felt a twinge.” Inter won the League Cup group stage match 5-4 on penalties.
Jordi Alba scores late – retirement contract?
Jordi Alba saved his team from defeat with a goal in the second minute of stoppage time to make it 2-2. Miami had been reduced to ten men early on after Falcon was shown a red card in the 17th minute. After an hour of play, Necaxa’s Calderon was shown a second yellow card, restoring parity in terms of personnel.
Messi had recently come under fire for skipping the MLS All-Star Game. The league subsequently suspended its star player for the top match against FC Cincinnati.
According to Marca, his club has offered him a new three-year contract—and more if the Argentine superstar wants it. This means that Messi will essentially be able to decide for himself how long he will continue to play for the Major League Soccer club co-owned by David Beckham. Messi will be 41 years old in the summer of 2028.
