Argentine star Lionel Messi missed Inter Miami’s training session on Wednesday due to strain in his left hamstring, prompting the American soccer league champions to postpone their friendly match in Puerto Rico.

The Argentine star and captain of Inter Miami was injured during the 2-2 draw with Barcelona Guayaquil in Ecuador last Saturday.

Messi underwent further tests to determine the extent of the injury.

“Unfortunately, I felt some muscle tightness in the last match,” Messi said in a team statement.

The return date of the Qatar 2022 World Cup champion remains uncertain, as the club stated that his gradual return to training “will depend on the improvement of his health and functional condition in the coming days.”

The defending champions will kick off their 2026 league campaign against Los Angeles FC on February 21.

Inter Miami was scheduled to play against Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle on Friday in Puerto Rico, but the team announced the postponement of the match to February 26, three days before its game against rival Orlando in the American league.

Messi, winner of eight Ballon d’Or awards for the world’s best player, continued, addressing the Puerto Rican fans: “We were really looking forward to seeing you. So we worked with the club to find an alternative date so we could travel and play in Puerto Rico.”

He concluded by saying, “We know how excited and eager you are to watch the Inter Miami match, and we would be delighted if that happens soon

Asharq -Al Awsat