Inter Miami will begin its Leagues Cup tournament title defense without the iconic star player who helped them win it a year ago.
Lionel Messi will not play in Saturday’s Leagues Cup opener for Inter Miami against LIGA MX club Puebla at Chase Stadium, coach Tata Martino said Friday.
Messi remains week to week with his right ankle ligament injury, which he suffered during Argentina’s win in the Copa America final on July 14. Martino noted that Messi’s recovery is ongoing, and he continues to work closely with trainers, often wearing a walking boot.
“But the ankle is getting better and better,” Martino said.
Inter Miami could also be without Luis Suarez, who Martino said has some knee inflammation and will be “evaluated until the last moment” before Saturday’s match.
The positive for Inter Miami is that they’ve been on a roll without Messi. They’ve won 6 of 7 games without him, dating back to last month. Meanwhile, Puebla has started its season with a win, draw, and two losses.
The Leagues Cup match between Inter Miami and Puebla will air on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Is Messi Playing in Inter Miami’s Next Game?
No, Messi remains out due to his ankle injury. Coach Martino confirmed Messi’s absence, emphasizing his ongoing recovery process.
What is the Leagues Cup Tournament?
Leagues Cup is a midseason tournament featuring MLS teams from the United States and Canada, and LIGA MX teams from Mexico. Here’s the full schedule of Leagues Cup matches in the next month.
