Messi is the biggest contributor to Inter Miami winning the 2023 Leagues Cup , the first title in the club’s history. However, at the beginning of the journey to defend the championship this year, the 37-year-old Argentine star will miss the first match, while still being on the match list.

Messi is still recovering from a right ankle injury sustained in the Copa America final. He has missed a total of eight games for Inter Miami, including seven in MLS.

During this time, Inter Miami played extremely impressively, they lost only 1 match, won the rest of 6 matches in MLS and started the Leagues Cup with a perfect 2-0 win over Puebla to secure a place in the round of 32. Matias Rojas and Suarez were the players who scored for Inter Miami, to start the journey to defend the championship in an impressive way.

With each group having 3 teams, the top 2 teams will qualify. Inter Miami’s win over Puebla at home has already secured their place in the next round. In the remaining match, Inter Miami will travel to the away field to meet Tigres UANL (also from Mexico) at 7am on August 4. With just a draw, coach Tata Martino’s team will take the top spot in the group and face an easier opponent in the round of 32.

According to coach Tata Martino: “Messi’s injury is on the way to recovery very well. However, when he returns to play, we will continue to evaluate and monitor him every day.”

The American press also made many predictions, including assessing the possibility that Messi will return to play for Inter Miami right in the campaign to defend the Leagues Cup championship. Including, the Argentine star can play in the upcoming match against Tigres UANL Club on August 4.

However, this is a very low possibility, because coach Tata Martino does not want to risk Messi’s injury. Therefore, it is only from the decisive knockout matches of the Leagues Cup that Messi, with his current recovery, can return to the field for Inter Miami, according to the Miami Herald (USA).