Lionel Messi injury update: Will Argentine soccer superstar play in US Open Cup Final? Inter Miami coach answers
Inter Miami won 4-0 even without their talisman leader.
Messi was laboring with what appeared to be a leg issue. Inter Miami coach Gerardo «Tata» Martino said after the game that the Argentine star will miss Sunday's game at Orlando. «He had an old injury that had been bothering him,» Martino said, as relayed through a team official who translated his remarks from Spanish to English, as per an AP report.
It was the second big injury blow for Inter Miami on Wednesday. Jordi Alba — another celebrated midseason addition — had to leave in the 34th minute, shortly before Messi's night was over. Alba will not play Sunday, either.
Will Lionel Messi Play in US Open Cup Final?
Inter Miami moved within five points of the final playoff spot in MLS' Eastern Conference. Wednesday's match was the first of what will be six for Inter Miami in a span of 17 days. The team plays at Orlando on Sunday, then will host Houston in the U.S. Open Cup final on September 27. That will be followed by three more MLS matches in short order: against New York City FC on September 30, at Chicago on October 4 and playing host to Cincinnati on October 7.
The 36-year-old Messi had missed two matches — one for club, the other for country — in recent days, after sitting out Argentina's World Cup qualifying win at Bolivia on September 12, and Inter Miami's 5-2 loss at Atlanta United this past Saturday.
Fatigue was cited in both cases, and the team did not provide any diagnosis of what is troubling the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner now. The game was scoreless when Messi was subbed out.
Martino, per the team's translation, said Messi was removed from Wednesday's game «to be safe.»
«We don't think it's a muscular injury. That's also from a conversation that I just
