Messi Sidelined for Inter Miami Leagues Cup Quarterfinal vs Tigres

Lionel Messi has been ruled out of Inter Miami's Leagues Cup quarter-final match against Tigres UANL due to a persistent minor muscle injury sustained during a group stage match against Necaxa on August 2. Despite returning briefly as a substitute in Miami's recent 3-1 MLS win over the LA Galaxy, where he scored and assisted, Messi continued to experience discomfort and has not trained fully with the team. Head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed Messi's absence and emphasized the need for caution in managing his recovery. Messi's injury is a significant blow to Inter Miami's hopes of defending their 2023 Leagues Cup title, as he remains the team's key difference-maker and MLS's leading scorer with 19 goals. In his absence, veteran teammates Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba are expected to step up as Miami faces a challenging opponent in Tigres, a team noted for its offensive power. The winner of this quarter-final will advance to the semifinals to face the winner of the Toluca-Orlando City match.