Inter Miami fans have reasons to worry. Ahead of the highly anticipated Leagues Cup quarterfinal against Tigres, Lionel Messi was noticeably absent from team training at the Florida Blue Training Center. While most of the squad took part in regular drills, the Argentine superstar reportedly stayed inside the gym for individual work, leaving his availability for the knockout match in doubt.
Messi’s fitness has been under close scrutiny. After suffering a minor muscle injury during the group stage match against Necaxa, he was sidelined for two weeks. His much-awaited return came on August 16 against LA Galaxy in MLS, where he played the entire second half.
The performance showed two sides of Messi: on one hand, a decisive figure who scored a stunning goal and delivered a brilliant backheel assist to Luis Suárez; on the other, a player still showing signs of discomfort, clutching his legs at times and heading straight to the locker room once the final whistle blew.
Messi’s condition: Uncertainty ahead of Tigres clash
The absence of Messi from full training only intensified doubts. Has he suffered a setback? Will he be fit enough to at least start on the bench? These questions are expected to be addressed by head coach Javier Mascherano in his pre-match press conference. The quarterfinal against Tigres is a do-or-die scenario: a win puts Inter Miami into the semifinals, while a loss means elimination from the tournament.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding their captain, Inter Miami kept an upbeat mood in training. Mascherano had a full roster available, aside from Messi’s situation, and emphasized the importance of focus heading into this crucial knockout fixture.
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Potential lineup without Messi
If Messi is unable to start, Mascherano may once again turn to Yannick Bright to fill the gap in attack, while building the offensive system around Luis Suárez as the main striker. The veteran forward has been in strong form and would lead the charge if Messi cannot feature from the beginning.
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The likely starting XI for Inter Miami could be:
Óscar Ustari; Marcelo Weigandt, Gonzalo Luján, Maxi Falcón, Jordi Alba; Tadeo Allende, Rodrigo De Paul, Sergio Busquets, Telasco Segovia; Messi (or Yannick Bright) and Luis Suárez.
