Is Lionel Messi injured? Inter Miami's lack of clarity over superstar's health status leaving fans frustrated

As players headed off for September's international matches, Inter Miami were riding high. They'd already won the Leagues Cup with Messi leading the charge, and the Argentine had also given the club slim hopes of overturning their horrendous start to the season by making the MLS playoffs.

At that point, Messi jetted off to Argentina, and Inter Miami were well aware they'd be without their superstar for a few games. He started, of course, in Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Ecuador, and scored the winner with a stunning free-kick as the 2022 World Cup champions started the 2026 cycle on a high.

As the match came to a close, though, Messi was substituted in the 89th minute with an apparent injury. He was left out of the squad for the subsequent match against Bolivia after Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni said he was day-to-day.

That was the expectation when he returned to Miami, and it may have been true initially. Unfortunately, though, Messi has been day-to-day for quite a while now.

After winning a crucial game against Sporting KC, Inter Miami were blown out by Atlanta United on September 16. Messi's imminent return couldn't have come at a better time because of that.

Messi did return in their next match: a 4-0 win over Toronto FC. However, he didn't last long, as he was taken off midway through the first half. Messi was seen stretching his leg shortly before exiting the match, but Miami head coach Tata Martino said the issue was just a case of fatigue.

“He had an old injury that had been bothering him," Martino said. "The scans he had with the national team, they didn’t show any injury. We still saved him to be safe."

It was an understandable explanation. Messi is 36 years old and has played a ridiculous amount of games, not just over his career but over the last few months. He's bound to need rest at some point.

However, as he's remained absent since, it's become clear that Messi's issue is something a bit more serious, although Miami haven't revealed how bad it really is.

It was all anyone could ask about ahead of the U.S. Open Cup final: After missing a match against Orlando City, will Messi return with a trophy on the line?

Around half of the questions posed to Martino and Sergio Busquets centered around Messi's status as reporters from all over the world were searching for any crumb of a clue around Messi's status. They didn't get any.

"We understand the explanation and the desire to know, but we don't have an issue of wanting to be mysterious or anything like that," Martino said. "If it wasn't Messi, the media wouldn't be asking about him! Nothing has to do with an operation, so no, forget about that. We have to think about how long the player has to stop to play another match.

"If it's not a final, we're not taking any risks. This is a final and it could bring you a title. It could take 90 or 120 minutes, but if it's another game we wouldn't risk it."

Messi, of course, didn't play in that final as Inter Miami lost to the Houston Dynamo. He then didn't play in Inter Miami's 1-1 draw with New York City FC. And, as a key match against the Chicago Fire looms on Wednesday, it still isn't clear when Messi will be back.

Around that NYCFC game, reports started to emerge that Messi had suffered a hamstring tear that will likely shut him down for the rest of the MLS season. The Inter Miami Podcast, not affiliated with the team, reported that the injury was really suffered against Toronto, further aggravating the initial issue picked up against Ecuador. Martino, though, shut those reports down, adding more mystery to a situation that already had plenty of it.

“Time will tell whether what I am saying is true or whether that person who made the report is right,” Martino said. “It is what I said. We’re going to see this game to game. We’re going to evaluate him. If he’s going to be on the bench, if he’s going to be [out], whether against Chicago or FC Cincinnati, we’re going to see that. He’s training on the field apart from the group, but he’s feeling better and better.”

That Chicago game will answer some questions, but so will Argentina's upcoming squad for the international break, as both club and country may have decisions to make with their star player.

You can easily understand Inter Miami's approach to all of this. It doesn't benefit them for the rest of the world to know Messi's status. They'll want opponents gameplanning for him, worrying about him, preparing for him, even if he isn't ready to play. However, Miami's secrecy has left those outside in the dark, and those people aren't too happy about it.

Messi, of course, has been a major ticket-driver for MLS since his arrival, with Miami matches hitting record prices for those looking to see Messi. For the past month or so, though, fans haven't really been sure what they were getting with their ticket: are they spending hundreds of dollars to see Messi or merely Facundo Farias?

Fans were seen leaving after Messi was substituted against Toronto FC. One fan that paid big bucks to see Messi in Atlanta was "devastated" while another said he couldn't find the words to tell his son that he wouldn't be able to see his idol.

Busquets, rightly, pointed out that it isn't players responsibility and that those on the field aren't "machines". Fans bought tickets to see Inter Miami, not Lionel Messi and, in that regard, everything was delivered as advertised.

Still, there has to be some sort of transparency. MLS does not have an official player availability report like other North American sports leagues do. Teams are not required to disclose injuries. Because of that, player statuses can remain somewhat mysterious right up until the line-up is released one hour before kick-off.

This Messi situation, though, has brought this debate to the forefront. In a world where tickets cost more and more, where sports betting is now legalized in many states across the U.S., where fans are investing more time, money and effort to see their teams than ever before, do clubs owe the public some kind of transparency?

The answer is yes. Inter Miami's season ticket prices are rising 82 percent next year. Prices all over the league are rising, too. Fans are paying more than their peers in most other countries to see MLS games and, for many, to see Messi. For years, MLS has been able to get away with a lack of transparency in some areas, whether it roster rules or injury reports, but, as the league grows in popularity, fans are demanding more.

A quick glimpse at social media will show that there are plenty out there that are frustrated with it all. This mystery is no fun, especially for those that are invested financially in what ends up happening.

"Thirty-seven minutes played in the last 23 days for Messi," former MLS star and current ESPN host Herculez Gomez posted on X. "It’s more than obvious that he was/is hurt. Messi doesn’t owe anyone anything - hurt or not this isn’t on him.

"Inter Miami not disclosing the severity of the injury is one thing. But stringing people along for ticket sales and advertising is another. If people think there is a possibility of him playing they’ll shell out money to see him. It’s that simple. MLS has to mandate injuries to be disclosed as they do in the NFL. Lots of money exchanging hands on this delicate information, both in sports books and sales."

The Fire have announced they've already sold out the stadium on Wednesday, adding that there will be a special halftime show. Will Messi play? No one really knows just yet.

Ticket prices had begun to tank on the secondary market, though, due to that uncertainty. While a massive crowd is expected, prices have gone down by hundreds of dollars. Those who do show up should see an intense game, but they may not see Messi.

“If he’s not on the field, they’re still a very good team,” Fire coach Frank Klopas said Monday. “They made some really excellent additions in the secondary window. That’s shown with every match, the way they play and compete… Obviously, with Messi on the pitch, it’s a different team because you have one player that at any moment you cannot take your eyes off him and with one play he can change the outcome of the game.”

Playoff places will very much be on the line on Wednesday in Chicago. Both the Fire and Inter Miami need wins. It's a hugely important game.

With just four regular season games remaining, Miami sit four points outside of a playoff spot. Chicago are level with CF Montreal on points for that ninth and final playoff spot, but they have played one more game than Messi's Miami.

The truth is this: Miami will almost certainly need to win out to leapfrog the four teams ahead of them for a postseason berth. A loss to Chicago will just about end their dreams. If they do win, though, they'll need to find a way past FC Cincinnati, the Supporters' Shield winners, before two final games, both against Charlotte FC.

Messi's status may very well remain a mystery for each of those games. If Miami do lose, maybe things become clearer and the club opts to shut him down for his own good. Until then, everyone involved in MLS will be watching on eagerly to see whether or not Messi will play in these vital games.