FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – If Inter Miami plans to keep its Leagues Cup title hopes alive, they may have to do so without Lionel Messi this week.
Messi, the Argentine World Cup champion, was not seen during the open portion of practice open to media on Tuesday, Aug. 19 – one day before the club’s Leagues Cup quarterfinal against Liga MX side Tigres UANL.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano did not divulge whether Messi would be sidelined or play in the match set for 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20. However, the coach said Messi trained separately from the club.
Messi has been dealing with a nagging right hamstring injury, which he appeared to reaggravate in an Aug. 16 MLS match against the L.A. Galaxy.
“We’ll see how he feels during the day [Wednesday], but he’s not ruled out of playing. I can’t tell you today whether he’ll play or not, because it depends a lot on how he feels,” Mascherano said.
Messi returned after a two-week layoff between games with three training sessions with teammates before facing the Galaxy. However, it’s clear his return was premature.
Messi played the second half of the match, but was quickly seen bending over and stretching his right leg at multiple points despite scoring a goal and delivering an assist to Luis Suarez in the 3-1 win.
In the final seconds of the match, Messi waited by the closest part of the pitch near the locker room area and walked immediately inside the stadium when the match concluded.
Messi initially suffered the injury during a Leagues Cup match on Aug. 2.
It caused him to miss two matches: Inter Miami advanced to the Leagues Cup knockout stage with a 3-1 win against Pumas on Aug. 6, then lost 4-1 to Orlando City in a regular-season match on Aug. 10.
Messi – on Monday, Aug. 18 – was named to Argentina’s preliminary roster for two World Cup qualifying matches in early September.
Messi could potentially play his final match in his home country when Argentina hosts Venezuela on Sept. 4 in Buenos Aires.
Argentina has already qualified for the World Cup, while Messi has yet to declare he will play in the tournament. Messi will be 39 during the World Cup next summer.
Is Messi playing tomorrow?
It’s unclear whether Messi will play with Inter Miami vs. Tigres in the Leagues Cup quarterfinal on Aug. 20.
When is the Inter Miami vs. Tigres UANL match in Leagues Cup?
The match is Aug. 20 at 8 p.m. ET (9 p.m. in Argentina).
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Tigres UANL Leagues Cup match on TV?
The match will be available on FS1 in English, and UniMás in Spanish.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Tigres UANL match on live stream?
The match will be available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, and the Apple TV+ channel.
Messi upcoming schedule with Inter Miami, Argentina
Aug. 20: Inter Miami vs. Tigres UANL (Leagues Cup quarterfinals)
Aug. 23: D.C. United vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
Aug. 26 or 27: Leagues Cup semifinals (if applicable)
Aug. 30: Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
Aug. 31: Leagues Cup final and third-place match (if applicable)
Sept. 4: Argentina vs. Venezuela (World Cup qualifying)
Sept. 9: Ecuador vs. Argentina (World Cup qualifying)
Sept. 13: Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
