Argentine star’s injury threatens blockbuster LAFC opener as club release statement and postpone Puerto Rico match against Independiente del Valle
Inter Miami have postponed their friendly against Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico by two weeks after Leo Messi sustained an injury during last Saturday’s preseason match against Barcelona SC.
Messi started the Barcelona SC clash on February 7 but was forced off in the 58th minute with discomfort. He watched the remainder of the match from the sidelines, and subsequent medical testing this week confirmed the muscle strain diagnosis.
The club announced Wednesday that their captain did not participate in training as the injury continues to trouble him. Inter Miami, working alongside event promoters and Puerto Rican government officials, decided to reschedule the friendly from February 13 to February 26, prioritising Messi’s recovery over commercial commitments.
“The Club, in collaboration with the event promoter and the government of Puerto Rico, believe shifting the match will allow for the best experience for fans in Puerto Rico,” Miami stated. “The match will remain at 7 p.m. ET (8 p.m. Local) at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel in Bayamón, Puerto Rico and the opponent also remains Independiente del Valle.”
Messi addressed disappointed Puerto Rican supporters directly via social media, explaining the medical reasoning behind the postponement while expressing hope to visit in the future.
“Hi everyone, I wanted to send this message to the people of Puerto Rico and all the people that will be going to the training session and game,” Messi said in a video.
“To be honest, during the last game in Ecuador I concluded with a muscle strain, which is why I left the field early. So, together with the people of the organization and Inter Miami it was decided to suspend this game.
“We hope it can be rescheduled, and we can see each other. Visit you soon. Sending a hug to you all and thank you for all the love that you always give. I hope we can do it in the future, all the best.”
🇺🇸 MLS side Chicago Fire are among the frontrunners to sign Robert Lewandowski.
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— BBSportNews (@thebbsportnews) February 12, 2026
Will Leo Messi be ready for Inter Miami vs LAFC?
Messi’s availability for the February 21 season opener against LAFC is genuine doubt. The club’s medical statement provided no specific recovery timeline, noting only that his return to training will depend on how he progresses clinically and functionally over the coming days.
“Messi did not participate in training this Wednesday, February 11, due to a muscle strain in his left hamstring sustained during the match against Barcelona SC in Ecuador, which has persisted since then,” Inter Miami said.
“The player underwent additional medical tests that confirmed the diagnosis. His gradual return to training will depend on his clinical and functional progress in the coming days.”
That leaves approximately ten days between now and the LAFC match for Messi to recover, resume training, and regain match fitness. Whether that proves sufficient depends entirely on the severity of the strain, which the club hasn’t disclosed publicly.
What is Messi’s injury?
Medical tests confirmed Messi sustained a muscle strain in his left hamstring during the Barcelona SC friendly.
Hamstring strains involve overstretching or tearing of the muscles running along the back of the thigh. They’re among the most common injuries in football, particularly affecting players who make sudden sprints, changes of direction, or explosive movements that stress the muscle fibres beyond their capacity.
Inter Miami won the MLS Cup last year with Messi as their centrepiece, and he followed that by claiming the golden boot in 2025 with continued excellence despite approaching 39.