Lionel Messi suffered a right leg muscle injury during the Leagues Cup match between Inter Miami and Necaxa on August 2, 2025, forcing him to exit the game early. The injury was later confirmed by Inter Miami as a "minor muscular injury" to his right hamstring, with further examinations scheduled to assess the extent. Despite Messi's early departure around the 10th minute, Inter Miami managed a comeback, with Jordi Alba scoring a late equalizer in stoppage time to force a penalty shootout, which Inter Miami won to advance closer to the quarterfinals. Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed Messi would miss the upcoming match against Pumas UNAM due to this injury. The absence of Messi was noted in Inter Miami's subsequent victory over Pumas, led by Luis Suárez, which resulted in Pumas' elimination from the tournament. The Leagues Cup 2025 has seen notable performances and increased viewership, partly attributed to star players like Messi, James Rodríguez, and Hirving Lozano. Other teams such as Toluca advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating New York City FC, while teams like Chivas and CF Montreal were eliminated. The tournament continues with key matches determining the final quarterfinalists.