Messi and Inter Miami deliver disappointing news to fans

The friendly match between Inter Miami CF and Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico has been delayed by two weeks following Lionel Messi’s left hamstring injury in the latest preseason friendly versus Barcelona SC on February 8.

Messi started in the match against Barcelona SC for Inter Miami on February 8, before leaving the field in the 58th minute and watching the remainder of the game from the technical area.

In a statement on February 11, Inter Miami said: “The club, in coordination with the event organizers and Puerto Rican authorities, believes that rescheduling the match will ensure the best possible experience for fans in Puerto Rico. The game will still take place at 8 PM local time at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, with Independiente del Valle remaining as the opponent.”

Earlier that day, the club announced: “Messi did not participate in training on February 11 due to a left hamstring strain sustained in the match against Barcelona SC in Ecuador, a condition that has persisted since then. The player has undergone additional medical examinations to confirm the diagnosis. His return to training will depend on clinical progress and functional recovery in the coming days.”

Messi himself posted a message on social media on February 11 about the match postponement. In a video, Messi said: “Hello everyone, I want to send this message to the people of Puerto Rico and all those who were planning to attend the training and the match. Honestly, during the recent game in Ecuador, I suffered a muscle strain, which is why I had to leave the field early. Therefore, together with the organizers and Inter Miami, we decided to postpone this match.

We hope to reschedule the game and see you all soon. I will come to visit you shortly. Sending a big hug to everyone and thank you for all the love you always show me. Hopefully, we will make it happen in the future. Wishing you all the best.”

Inter Miami will still face Independiente del Valle in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, but on February 26 instead of the originally planned February 13. This friendly will take place after the start of the 2026 MLS season, when Inter Miami will begin their campaign with an away game against LAFC.

In 2024, Messi was unable to play in a preseason friendly in Hong Kong because of an injury. Following the local fans’ angry reaction to his absence, the event organizers had to issue partial refunds to attendees.

At that time, Inter Miami stated: “We recognize that this late decision disappointed fans in Hong Kong and the event organizer Tatler Asia. However, we must emphasize that injuries are an unfortunate part of football, and player health must always be prioritized.”