(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Lionel Messi a Doubt for Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup Quarter-Final Against Tigres
Inter Miami may have to face Tigres UANL without Lionel Messi as the Argentine superstar battles to regain full fitness ahead of Wednesday’s Leagues Cup quarter-final.
Head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed that Messi, 38, trained separately from the squad on Tuesday as he continues to manage muscular issues that have troubled him since early August.
Messi’s Fitness Concerns
Messi recently returned from a two-week absence, scoring off the bench in Miami’s 3-1 win over LA Galaxy last weekend. Despite finding the net, the World Cup winner appeared uncomfortable during his 45-minute cameo, sparking fresh concerns about his availability.
“Leo didn’t train with the group; he trained separately,” Mascherano told reporters in Fort Lauderdale. “He felt uncomfortable during the 45 minutes he played on Saturday. We’ll see how he feels today and tomorrow, but he’s not ruled out.”
The coach added: “I can’t tell you right now if he’ll play because it depends a lot on how he feels.”
High Stakes for Miami
Messi’s potential absence would be a major setback for Inter Miami as they look to reclaim the Leagues Cup title they lifted in 2023 during the Argentine’s spectacular first season in MLS.
Miami faces a difficult challenge against Tigres, one of Mexico’s most successful clubs with eight Liga MX titles. Mascherano acknowledged the threat posed by the Mexican giants:
“They’re a team with a lot of offensive power,” he said. “Our goal is to neutralize Tigres, be the protagonists, keep possession, and play at our pace.”
Quarter-Final Lineup
Wednesday’s schedule will feature four quarter-final ties:
-
Inter Miami vs Tigres UANL
-
Toluca vs Orlando City
-
LA Galaxy vs Pachuca
-
Seattle Sounders vs Puebla
The results will determine which teams move a step closer to the Leagues Cup trophy.
