Lionel Messi Injury Update: Tata Martino Provides Positive Update on Inter Miami Skipper’s Recovery Ahead of Leagues Cup Clash

Inter Miami is riding comfortably in their ‘no Lionel Messi, no problem’ phase. Not just in the MLS, but in the Leagues Cup too. Amid injured Messi’s absence, the Herons started their Leagues Cup defense in style by crashing Puebla 2-0. However, it is high time fans got entertained once again by the Argentine’s masterclass. After all, the 2022 World Champion is undoubtedly the USP for the Miami side. So, will he finally be available for the Herons’ next Leagues Cup tie against Tigres UANL on Saturday?

Well, that remains dubious. But Tata Martino has finally said something about Lionel Messi, that would put a smile on his fans’ faces.

Martino says Lionel Messi’s recovery has shown great progress

Before Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup opener with Puebla, Tata Martino had insisted that Lionel Messi should continue to wear his walking boots. Well, that is now a story of the past. In a pre-game presser before the Tigres UANL tie, the Miami boss said Messi removed his orthopedic boot. But he added that the Argentina captain is still training in isolation at the gym. “Lionel Messi is progressing positively in the recovery phase,” said Martino, concluding his update on La Pulga.

By the looks of it, Leo Messi’s feature against Tigres UANL is still dubious. It will perhaps be a game-time decision for the Argentine boss whether he should start the 37-year-old or not. There is also a chance for Messi to sit out against Tigres, as Inter Miami has already qualified for the Leagues Cup knockouts. More rest time means Messi could be back stronger than ever to help the Herons defend their Leagues Cup crown. So who is Miami going to face next? Let’s find out.

What next for Inter Miami after Saturday’s game?

Win or lose against Tigres, Martino and Co. would still be in the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup. If Leo Messi’s side beats the Mexican side on Sunday, they will face the winner of the Toronto-Pachuca Leagues Cup game. If they lose, they play the loser of the Toronto-Pachuca tie. Anyhow, the Leagues Cup has yet to announce the date, time, and venue for Inter Miami’s Round of 32 game.

While Martino could probably snub Leo Messi for Sunday’s game, he will surely field a recovered skipper in Miami’s first knockout game. If gone well, it will indeed be a fairytale-esque return for the 8x Ballon d’Or winner. He powered the Herons to its first Leagues Cup win in his debut season while scoring in every other game at the tournament. Now, he could have another chance to prove that the Leagues Cup is his forte, just like the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League once were.