Luis Suárez gives Lionel Messi injury update ahead of Leagues Cup clash

The Inter Miami captain has not featured since early June and an ankle injury threatens his availability for the upcoming Tigres game.

Luis Suárez was on the scoresheet for Inter Miami in their Leagues Cup opener against Puebla. The Herons won 2-0 against the Liga MX side, putting them on course to qualify for the knockout rounds of the 2024 competition.

They had to do it without captain and talisman Lionel Messi, who is still recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained during the Copa América final. His Argentina side triumphed over Colombia but Messi watched on from the sidelines and has not featured since.

The MLS team have been tight-lipped about Messi’s status but teammate Suárez has issued an injury update, insisting that the Argentine is making good progress.

Speaking after the victory over Puebla, Suárez told reporters: “Everyone knows how committed Leo is to this club, with his national team and his desire to be on the field. But as the days go by he is getting closer to his return to the field, which is where we all want to see him.”

Will Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami against Tigres?

The group stage of the Leagues Cup sees teams divided into three-team groups, playing one game against each of the other two opponents. After winning their opening game Miami do not return to the field until Saturday, when they will face Mexican giants Tigres at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

The midweek break gives Messi a little extra time to continue his injury recovery but he looks unlikely to feature this weekend. In his most recent public appearance Messi was seen wearing a large protective boot over his injured right ankle and he’s not yet returned to the practice field to begin light workouts. He seems unlikely to complete a full recovery in the days to come.

Fortunately, Inter Miami have no real need to rush him back. After wining the opening game they are in pole position to qualify from the group and have been on an impressive run of form throughout Messi’s absence.

Inter Miami pulled off a major shock by winning Leagues Cup last summer, benefitting from some starring performances from Lionel Messi along the way. This year, however, Leagues Cup is less of a priority and head coach Tata Martino will be desperate to ensure that he has a fit and firing Messi in the fall, when the MLS Cup playoffs get underway.