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

NYSE - LSE
RBGPF -19.57% 69 $
CMSD 0.78% 23.08 $
AZN 2.11% 204.8 $
BCE -0.29% 24.09 $
BCC 5.11% 83.04 $
CMSC 0.66% 22.77 $
GSK 2.09% 58.35 $
RELX 1.28% 36.68 $
NGG -0.69% 86.92 $
BTI 0.95% 56.68 $
RIO 0.44% 100.15 $
JRI 1.38% 13.09 $
BP -6.82% 44.59 $
VOD -1.42% 15.48 $
RYCEF 4.87% 17.66 $
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