By Toby TAIWO
Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos provided some much-needed relief following Lionel Messi’s unexpected exit during their MLS clash against the Philadelphia Union, assuring that the Argentine captain left the pitch strictly due to physical fatigue rather than a confirmed injury.
Alarm bells initially went off in the 72nd minute when Messi clutched the back of his left thigh, requested a substitution, and walked straight down the tunnel to the locker room. With the scoreboard locked in a vibrant 4-4 deadlock at the time, the sight triggered immediate panic just weeks away from the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup.
However, when questioned during his post-match press conference regarding the superstar’s condition, Hoyos dismissed any worrying diagnoses, explaining that the decision was entirely precautionary.
“We have no information indicating any injury. He was truly fatigued; it was just fatigue,” the manager stated.
Faced with persistent follow-up questions about a potential muscle strain, the manager reiterated that the substitution was simply a response to the physical toll accumulated throughout the match.
“He was tired, and the pitch was heavy. When in doubt, it’s always best not to take risks,” Hoyos added.
The matchup against Philadelphia served as Messi’s final club appearance for Inter Miami before joining up with the Argentina national team as they finalize their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
The defending World Cup champions are scheduled to make their tournament debut on June 16 against Algeria. Consequently, any physical issue involving their talismanic captain is being tracked with intense scrutiny by Lionel Scaloni’s coaching staff and millions of Argentine fans. For now, Hoyos’ reassuring update allows everyone to breathe a little easier.
