Soccer-Messi substituted after clutching thigh in final club game before World Cup

Lionel Messi came off the pitch ​in the 73rd minute of ​his last club match before ‌the ​World Cup on Sunday but Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos said he thought the Argentine was just ‌fatigued after playing on a heavy pitch.

Lionel Messi came off the pitch ​in the 73rd minute of ​his last club match before ‌the ​World Cup on Sunday but Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos said he thought the Argentine was just ‌fatigued after playing on a heavy pitch. The eight-times Ballon d'Or winner was substituted after clutching the back of his thigh in the wake of one of ‌his trademark free kicks during Inter's 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Union ‌in Miami.

"We don't have a medical report on that yet, but we will have one shortly," Hoyos told reporters when asked why the talismanic forward was taken off. "He was genuinely ⁠suffering ​from fatigue in ⁠that regard; it is indeed fatigue. He was tired, the pitch was heavy and when ⁠in doubt, the standard approach is always to ensure you don't take any risks."

Major ​League Soccer is now taking a mid-season break for the World Cup, ⁠which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to ⁠July ​19. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni announced a 55-man squad, including Messi, on May 11. He will need to reduce it to 26 before FIFA's ⁠June 1 deadline.

Messi was highly influential as Argentina won the World Cup for a ⁠third time ⁠in Qatar four years ago. They open their title defence against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16.