Injury, Lionel Messi Threatened To Be Absent In The 2023 US Open Cup Final

Inter Miami player, Lionel Messi. (Photo: Twitter/@InterMiamiFC)

JAKARTA Lionel Messi is in danger of being sidelined by an injury when Inter Miami plays the final match of the US Open Cup against Houston Dynamo FC next week.

The Argentine international's latest injury came when his team won 4-0 over Toronto FC in the United States League (MLS) continued at the DRV PNK Stadium, Florida, Thursday, September 21 morning.

The injury left Messi to be pulled off the pitch after playing for 37 minutes. This injury left La Pulga, who previously missed exhaustion in Miami losing 2-5 to Atlanta on Sunday, most likely won't be able to play in next week's US Cup final against Houston.

Apart from Messi, Inter Miami is also in danger of being ruled out by Jordi Alba. Messi's former Barcelona teammate also suffered an injury against Toronto.

Martino said the two players will miss Sunday's match against Orlando City and there is a possibility that they will still not be in the US Open Cup final later.

"There is no possibility that they will appear on Sunday (against Orlando City). I know we have a final game to play (on Thursday against Houston). However, they will not be on the pitch if they cannot play," he said, quoted by BBC Sport.

Inter Miami hasn't lost 11 games every time Messi has played since he joined the club last July.

Prior to this match against Toronto, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was also not played by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, against Bolivia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers last week.

However, at that time Messi was not ready to play because he felt uncomfortable. The reason is, the test results in the Argentine national team he did not have serious injuries.

"The results of the scans carried out (Messi) with the national team did not show any injuries. We still keep him safe," said Martino.

"We don't think he has a muscle injury. That's also from the conversation I just had with him. But we have to keep being careful. We'll see him in the next few days," he added.