Miami (AFP) – Lionel Messi will not play for defending champion Inter Miami against Tigres in a Leagues Cup home match on Saturday despite injury improvements, Miami coach Gerardo Martino said.
Messi suffered a right ankle ligament injury in last month’s Copa America final, helping Argentina to victory over Colombia, but Martino said the 37-year-old Argentine striker is getting better. Messi no longer wears a walking boot, Martino said, but he has not rejoined his teammates for a practice workout, instead working with trainers to heal the injury.
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In the past two months, Inter Miami has won seven of eight matches without Messi, who last year arrived and sparked the MLS team to a trophy in the inaugural Leagues Cup. The World Cup-style event featuring MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX clubs has three-team groups with two clubs from each advancing into knockout round play.
Miami and Tigres are among 15 teams that have already clinched berths in the 32-club knockout round, so only a seeding spot is at stake Saturday.
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