- Messi out of Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match vs. Pumas due to a muscle injury
- Injury occurred 11 minutes into Miami’s previous game vs. Necaxa
- Javier Mascherano confirms the injury is minor but Messi is unavailable
Argentina and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi will miss today’s crucial Leagues Cup match against Pumas UNAM after picking up a leg injury in the game against Necaxa.
Messi was forced off just 11 minutes into the match due to a minor muscle strain in his upper right leg. Despite his early exit, Inter Miami held Necaxa to a 2-2 draw and eventually won on penalties.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano offered some optimism regarding Messi’s recovery:
“Within the bad news, it’s good news. He typically recovers quickly from injuries. But clearly, he’s not available for this match.”
Inter Miami, currently 5th in the overall MLS standings with 42 points, must beat Pumas to secure a spot in the Leagues Cup quarter-finals, as only the top four teams from each group progress.
Messi, who has been in superb form, leads the MLS scoring chart with 18 goals this season. He famously helped guide Inter Miami to a Leagues Cup title shortly after arriving in 2023.
