A new report has shed some light on whether Lionel Messi will feature for Inter Miami this weekend in their Leagues Cup opener against Club Puebla.
The Argentine international returned to Florida last week after winning the Copa America, though the title win came at a cost as Lionel Messi twisted his ankle in the final, ruling the forward out of the last two games and MLS All-Star week.
With Leagues Cup kicking off on Saturday, there have been growing concerns on whether or not Messi will be fit enough to play for Inter Miami, with the attacker appearing at Chase Stadium on the weekend with a protective boot.
And details have now emerged on whether Messi will play against Puebla.
Messi set to miss Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup clash vs Puebla
According to the Miami Herald, Messi is set to miss this weekend’s Leagues Cup opener against Puebla, with the 37-year-old yet to fully recover from his ankle injury suffered during the Copa America final.
With Leagues Cup this year taken on much lesser importance compared to 12 months ago, giving Messi as many games off as possible is a decision that could pay off big time for Inter Miami in the long-run.
Indeed, Inter Miami have just nine regular MLS season games to go before the playoffs, with the Herons in the driving seat for the Supporters’ Shield and already the favorites for to win MLS Cup.
And if the Florida franchise can go as long as possible without using Messi in Leagues Cup, the better Inter Miami’s chances will be at winning domestic silverware later this year.
Herons could win Leagues Cup without their no. 10
Even with Messi missing from action, Inter Miami have shown in recent weeks that they have the quality in their squad needed to go toe-to-toe with some of the best clubs in MLS.
And in Leagues Cup, there’s a real chance that Inter Miami could go all the way even if Messi were to miss every game, a reality that is looking more and more likely by the day.
Whilst an early exit could benefit the entire squad in terms of fitness, Inter Miami will want to send a message, with a Leagues Cup win without Messi an incredible achievement that could be possible.