Will Messi play for Inter Miami against Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup

Lionel Messi has so far been absent throughout Inter Miami’s defence of their Leagues Cup crown.

Star forward Lionel Messi remains unavailable to Inter Miami, as the Herons prepare to take on Columbus Crew in an all-MLS last-16 tie in the 2024 Leagues Cup.

What injury does Messi have?

Messi has been sidelined throughout Miami’s League Cup title defence over the past three weeks, as he continues to recover from an ankle-ligament injury sustained in Argentina’s Copa América final win over Colombia a month ago.

Having also missed several MLS games due to his involvement in the Copa América in late June and early July, the 37-year-old now hasn’t played for the Floridians since a 3-3 league draw with St Louis City some eight weeks ago.

What has Miami boss Martino said about Messi?

Speaking to reporters ahead of Miami’s Leagues Cup clash with Columbus, the team’s head coach, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, said he could not yet offer exact timeline for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s return to fitness.

“Leo is progressing as expected, but there’s still no precise date for when he might rejoin the group,” Martino said on Monday. “He continues to work separately.”

The coach added: “Leo’s absence affects us in different ways. At times, his absence is compounded by the absence of other key players. But even when it’s just him missing, it’s a significant factor. We’ve aimed to build not only a competitive team but also a competitive squad.

“When everyone is available, we are much more reliable and capable of truly competing. Our priority is to resolve the situation with Leo as quickly as possible while maintaining our competitiveness in his absence.”

Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami: star time, how to watch

Columbus Crew host Inter Miami at Lower.com Field today, Tuesday August 13, with kick-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. Viewers in the United States will be able to watch the clash on MLS Season Pass, a subscription service on the streaming platform Apple TV.

You can follow live-text commentary of Columbus vs Miami right here at AS USA.

Who will the winners play in the quarter-finals?

In the last eight of the Leagues Cup, Columbus or Miami will meet Mexicans Tigres or fellow Americans New York City FC. Tigres and NYCFC face off in Harrison, New Jersey, at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT today.