Argentine star Lionel Messi missed his team Inter Miami’s training sessions ahead of the US Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday, while doubts loom over his return to the field due to a mysterious injury that the team has not yet revealed.
Miami is seeking to win its second title in a row since Messi joined its ranks this summer from Paris Saint-Germain, after winning the League Cup reserved for American and Mexican clubs last month.
Messi, who won the Qatar 2022 World Cup, missed the 1-1 draw against Orlando City on Sunday, while his compatriot, Inter coach Gerardo Martino, confirmed that his condition would be evaluated “on a daily basis.”
It remains unclear whether the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is simply suffering from fatigue due to the intensity of matches since joining the club last July, or whether he is suffering from a chronic injury.
Leo 🤝 Leo
Leo Messi to Leo Campana to make it 3-0!#LAFCvMIA | 0-3 pic.twitter.com/3qJUMiC6Te
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 4, 2023
Martino: Old scars
Martino reinforced the ambiguity of Messi’s future by referring to the “old scars” that hinder the former Barcelona star, without mentioning any specific injury.
Also missing from the training session, along with Messi, was his former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba.
Martino decided that Alba would not participate, while he maintained doubts about Messi in an interview with the media on Tuesday, saying, “Jordi, I don’t think so, it is difficult, but Leo, we will wait until tomorrow (Wednesday). We will wait for the last minute to make the decision.”
The former Barcelona coach confirmed that Messi’s participation, if it happens, “is exclusively related to the final match. If it is one of the 34 matches (in the league), we will not risk it. It makes sense to wait. If it is related to any other type of match, I do not think we will do this type.” Of risk.”
Messi was substituted during Argentina’s 2026 World Cup qualifier match against Ecuador due to injury as well (French)
Messi is suffering
Messi has been suffering since he was substituted in the 88th minute during Argentina’s match in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, after scoring the only goal from a direct free kick in the victory over Ecuador on September 7th.
He missed the world champions’ 3-0 win in Bolivia 5 days later in the second round of qualifiers, before returning to his club after the international break. He did not participate again during Miami’s 5-2 defeat to Atlanta in the league on the 16th of this month, as Martino said he was suffering from muscle fatigue.
The Argentine star’s problems continued, as despite his starting participation in Miami’s home match against Toronto, he asked to be replaced in the 38th minute.
After the Cup Final, Miami has 5 matches remaining in the American League season in its quest to qualify for the playoffs, as on Saturday it hosts New York City FC, which is in ninth place last and qualifies for the “Playoff”, and which is 5 points ahead of Martino’s team.
2023-09-26 19:32:27
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