Messi sidelined: Inter Miami face Tigres UANL without star player in Leagues Cup

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino confirms Messi will miss the game; team gears up for knockout stage

Lionel Messi is making progress in his recovery from a right ankle ligament injury but will not participate in Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match against Tigres UANL at Houston's NRG Stadium on Saturday.

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino confirmed at a news conference on Friday that Messi is no longer using the walking boot he initially wore after the injury. However, he is still working with the team's trainers and has yet to join his teammates in practice.

This update marks a positive step in Messi's recovery since he sustained the injury during the Copa America final on July 14. Inter Miami's game against Tigres UANL is crucial for determining seeding in the Leagues Cup tournament, although both teams have already secured a place in the Round of 32 after defeating Puebla in the group stage.

Inter Miami will next face either Toronto from MLS or Pachuca from LIGA MX in the knockout stage next week. If Inter Miami wins, they will compete against the loser of the Toronto-Pachuca match, while a loss will see them face the winner.

Despite already advancing, Martino considers Tigres UANL a strong contender in the Leagues Cup, viewing Saturday's match as a significant test for Inter Miami. The team has managed to win seven out of eight matches without Messi since June 1. "Tigres UANL is one of the most important teams in the tournament, and it will surely be a nice test for us to see how we are to transcend in this competition," Martino said.

The match between Inter Miami and Tigres UANL is scheduled to start at 8 pm ET (9 pm in Argentina) and will be streamed live on Apple TV's MLS Season Pass.

The Leagues Cup features 47 teams in a World Cup-style format, including MLS teams from the US and Canada and LIGA MX clubs from Mexico. Inter Miami claimed victory in the inaugural Leagues Cup last year with Messi leading the team.