Lionel Messi remains sidelined after suffering a right ankle injury a month ago in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Colombia in the Copa America final.
Coach Gerardo Martino of Inter Miami said on Monday that Argentine sensation Lionel Messi would not play in Tuesday’s Leagues Cup knockout match against MLS champion Columbus. Messi is still out of action following a right ankle injury he sustained during Argentina’s 1-0 Copa America final triumph against Colombia one month ago. Since he managed to get out of a walking boot, Messi has not yet practiced with his Miami teammates.
Messi assisted Miami in winning the first Leagues Cup last year, which is a competition between Mexican Liga MX and Major League Soccer teams.
Eight games on Monday and Tuesday will determine the quarterfinal pairings for Friday and Saturday. The matchup between Miami, this year’s top overall club in the league standings, and the Columbus Crew, last year’s MLS champions, is one of those games.
Mexico’s Pumas will take on the Seattle Sounders in the opening round of 16. In the CONCACAF Champions League final of 2022, Seattle triumphed against the Pumas.
Tuesday’s other knockout games are Club America at St. Louis, San Jose at Los Angeles FC, Toluca at Colorado, Cruz Azul at Mazatlan, Tigres versus New York City, and Philadelphia at Cincinnati.
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