The Leagues Cup destiny rests on the feet of Inter Miami. Not long remaining until the Herons, who fought their way from the round of 32, take up the round of 16 challenge against MLS rivals Columbus Crew. A win in today’s fixture would see either of the Eastern Conference sides progress to the quarter-final stage. However, the million-dollar question repeats itself every time the David Beckham-owned side plays: Will Lionel Messi play tonight? 

Since returning from Copa America victory with Argentina, the Miami skipper hasn’t played a single minute. It comes after he suffered an ankle injury and has been continuing to recuperate from it since then. Unfortunately, the Columbus clash also remains the same story as Lionel Messi won’t be able to play in the round of 16 for Inter Miami tonight. He also won’t be able to cheer for his domestic side from the stands as Tata Martino and Co. will be traveling to Ohio’s Lowerfield.com Stadium.

La Pulga hasn’t played in a domestic match for over a month. His last appearance for Inter Miami was registered on June 2, during a 3-3 draw against St. Louis. After that, he has been missing several MLS games from June 16 to July 21 because of international duties. Concerning the Leagues Cup, Messi remained absent from the group stage matches against Puebla and Tigres UNAL, where Miami won 2-0 and lost 1-2, respectively.

Additionally, the previous 3-4 thriller against Toronto was rather appreciated by the 37-year-old from the stands of Chase Stadium. Now, Miami again has a duty on its shoulders to make it to the next stage of the competition without their star player. A helping hand would be required again from the likes of Diego Gomez, Luis Suarez, Matias Rojas, and Jullian Gressel. But this brings up a question as to when can we expect Messi to offer his support to Miami.

When to expect Lionel Messi to be back for Inter Miami?

The last time the Florida-based club gave an update about the 8x Ballon d’Or winner, it was something like, “The captain’s availability will be determined by regular check-ups and the progress of his recovery.” Since then, Tata Martino hasn’t been bombarded with questions concerning Messi’s return.

The Argentinian coach shared that the Herons’ medical team is monitoring the captain’s recovery every week. The Barcelona legend is currently training separately until he’s fully healed. But on a brighter note, the World Cup winner’s “ankle is getting better and better,” according to Martino, indicating that Messi could return by the end of August.

Though there remains the chance of making an early return, Miami is likely to avoid rushing him back into play. Given Lionel Messi’s susceptibility to injuries this season, patience and caution are essential in managing his recovery. For now, the captain shall focus on his recovery progress while Inter Miami fight their way without him.