Inter Miami Confirms Messi Out Against Orlando Due Muscle Injury

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi will miss the upcoming MLS match against Orlando City due to a minor muscle injury in his right leg sustained during a Leagues Cup game against Necaxa. Head coach Javier Mascherano emphasized that it would be too risky to play Messi given the demanding upcoming schedule, including matches against LA Galaxy and a Leagues Cup quarterfinal against Tigres UANL. Despite Messi's absence, Inter Miami has secured a spot in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals and remains optimistic about his return soon. Messi has been a key player for Miami, scoring eight of the club's thirteen MLS goals since their exit from the Club World Cup. The team currently sits fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference but has games in hand that could move them to the top of the standings. Mascherano praised the team's qualification efforts and acknowledged the challenge posed by Tigres, highlighting the competitive nature of their upcoming fixtures.