Miami - Saba:
Argentine international star Lionel Messi will miss his team Inter Miami's match against Mexico's Pumas UNAM in the Leagues Cup due to a muscle problem, according to his compatriot, the American team's coach, Javier Mascherano.
The 38-year-old suffered what Mascherano described as a "minor muscle injury" in his upper right leg during his team's win over Mexico's Necaxa in the same tournament last Saturday.
While there is no timetable for the Argentine captain's return, his coach expressed hope to see him back on the pitch soon.
Mascherano told reporters, "He usually recovers very well from injuries, and most importantly, he usually does it quickly, so we'll see. But obviously, he won't be available tomorrow. But then we'll see how he feels and how he improves."
The eight-time world player of the year, who has scored 18 goals in the domestic league this season, led Inter Miami to the 2023 League Cup title shortly after joining the team.
Inter Miami will likely need to win their final group game against Pumas to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament, which brings together teams from the American and Mexican leagues.
Messi will have two weeks to recover if Inter Miami reaches the knockout stage before the quarterfinals begin. Inter Miami will play Orlando in the local league on Sunday.
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