• Lionel Messi diagnosed with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring just weeks before the World Cup.
• Inter Miami confirms that recovery timeline depends on clinical progress.
• The injury occurred during a match, raising concerns for Argentina's title defense.

Lionel Messi is facing an injury scare as Inter Miami announced that he has been diagnosed with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring, just weeks before the World Cup. The diagnosis comes after Messi left a recent match against the Philadelphia Union in the 73rd minute, clutching his thigh. The club stated that the "timeline for his return to physical activity will depend on his clinical and functional progress," which has raised concerns for Argentina as they prepare for their upcoming matches, including the World Cup opener against Algeria on June 16, according to SCMP, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

Messi's injury has raised eyebrows, particularly given that Argentina's training camp for the World Cup begins soon. Inter Miami reported that the testing performed on Messi did not specify further procedures, but it is suspected he underwent an MRI. The team has noted the injury was characterized as "an overload associated with muscle fatigue," typical for high-level athletes during congested match periods. Messi left the field without assistance, and while Inter Miami's coach commented that the field conditions may have influenced his performance, the seriousness of the situation remains unclear, according to SCMP and Reuters.

With the World Cup scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, Messi's status is crucial as he is expected to lead Argentina into the tournament. The team will face Algeria in their first match, and their squad is anticipated to be named soon. Messi has been included in a provisional squad, marking what could be his sixth appearance at the World Cup, where he previously led Argentina to victory in 2022, as noted by Al Jazeera and Reuters.