Lionel Messi will miss Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Pumas UNAM because of a minor muscle injury, coach Javier Mascherano confirmed on Tuesday.
Messi picked up the injury in his upper right leg during Miami’s win over Necaxa last Saturday. While there’s no set date for his return, Mascherano remains hopeful.
“It’s bad news, but not terrible,” he told reporters. “Messi usually recovers quickly from injuries. He won’t play tomorrow, but we’ll see how he feels over the next few days.”
Messi has been in great form this season, scoring a league-best 18 goals in MLS. He helped Miami win the Leagues Cup in 2023, not long after joining the team.
Inter Miami need a win against Pumas in their final group match to have a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals. If they qualify, Messi could have up to two weeks to recover.
Miami’s next MLS game is scheduled for Sunday against Orlando.
