Arizona Tribune - Messi ruled out of Miami's Leagues Cup quarter-final v Tigres

NYSE - LSE
CMSC 0.18% 21.99 $
RBGPF 0% 65.61 $
JRI 0.46% 13 $
BCE 1.87% 21.42 $
NGG 3.22% 82.85 $
RIO 1.13% 94.42 $
GSK 4.4% 53.66 $
BTI 1.96% 61.77 $
RELX 1.72% 31.93 $
RYCEF 1.27% 19.75 $
BCC 0.59% 75.93 $
VOD 1.06% 13.15 $
CMSD -0.14% 22.15 $
AZN 5.79% 195.15 $
BP 3.34% 37.4 $
Messi ruled out of Miami's Leagues Cup quarter-final v Tigres
Messi ruled out of Miami's Leagues Cup quarter-final v Tigres / Photo: Chandan Khanna - AFP

Messi ruled out of Miami's Leagues Cup quarter-final v Tigres

Lionel Messi was ruled out of Inter Miami's Leagues Cup quarter-final against Tigres UANL on Wednesday, a day after coach Javier Mascherano revealed the Argentine superstar was still struggling with injury.

Text size:

Messi, who has battled a "minor" muscle injury since a Leagues Cup group match against Necaxa on August 2, had returned to Miami's lineup Saturday after a two-week absence, scoring a goal after coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy.

However the 38-year-old World Cup winner looked to be in physical discomfort during his second-half appearance, and he was not in the lineup announced before the clash in the cross-border club competition for teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico's Liga-MX.

Messi's absence is a blow to Miami's hopes of regaining the Leagues Cup title they won in 2023 during the Argentine icon's fairytale first season in Major League Soccer.

Mascherano predicted a stiff test against Tigres, the eight-time Mexican champions, describing them as "a team with a lot of offensive power."

Miami's game with Tigres was one of four Leagues Cup quarter-finals set for Wednesday.

Mexico's Toluca face Orlando City before Los Angeles Galaxy host Pachuca, while the Seattle Sounders take on Puebla at home.

P.Smith--AT