Skip to content
MLS

Messi forced off with old injury: World Cup winner doubtful for cup final

Published on September 21, 2023
Updated on September 22, 2023
Chris
Written by Chris

Best Bookmaker Offers

18+ New Customers only. Max Win £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at odds 1/1 or greater. Paid as bonus token. Min 4/5 odds required. Skrill, Neteller, Paypal not eligible. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply.
New UK, IE & Malta customers only. Min £10/€10 first deposit using Debit Card. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 1.5 and get £10. Further £10 credited after 7 days and a further £10 credited after 14 days. Full T&Cs apply.18+. begambleaware.org  
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. The promotion reward functions as a £30 Surprise Bet. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. Full T&Cs
18+ | Play Responsibly | T&Cs Apply. Begambleaware.org
Messi forced off with old injury: World Cup winner doubtful for cup final
  • Messi suffers setback in Inter Miami return
  • Inter win 4-0 against Toronto FC but key duo doubtful for US Open Cup final
  • Messi and Alba to miss MLS match against Orlando City

Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated return to action for Inter Miami was cut short after just 37 minutes. The Argentine, who was notably absent from Miami’s previous match due to fatigue, is extremely doubtful for the US Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo.

Injury blows for Messi and Alba

Manager Gerardo Martino disclosed that the 36-year-old forward is grappling with an “old injury,” shedding light on the potential hurdles Messi might face in the near future. Notably, Messi was not featured in the recent match against Bolivia under the guidance of Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni.

Scaloni stated that Messi did not feature for his country last week because he “was not ready to play” and the former Barcelona forward “did not feel comfortable”.

Adding to the setback, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba also suffered an injury during the match against Toronto. Manager Martino confirmed that both players will be unavailable for the upcoming clash against Orlando City.

“There is no chance they will be there on Sunday,” said Martino.

“I know we have a final to play [on Wednesday] but they won’t go near the pitch if they can’t play.”

Since joining the MLS club in July after bidding farewell to Paris St-Germain, Messi has been instrumental in ensuring Inter Miami’s success. The team has remained undefeated in the 11 matches in which Messi has played, underscoring his impact on the squad.

Despite Messi’s untimely exit against Toronto, Inter Miami managed to secure a convincing 4-0 victory. Captain Messi’s replacement, Robert Taylor, emerged as the hero of the match with two goals, while Facundo Farias and Benjamin Cremaschi also found the net, sealing a comfortable win for the team.

As Messi’s recovery and availability for future matches hang in the balance, the Inter Miami fanbase eagerly awaits updates on their star player’s condition and hopes for a swift return to the pitch. The team’s performance in upcoming fixtures will undoubtedly be closely scrutinised in the absence of these key players.

Betting Implications

Inter Miami have completely turned their season around since the arrival of Messi and his former Barcelona teammates Alba and Sergio Busquets. They face a tough MLS match at the weekend, away at Orlando City, without Messi and Alba. Orlando are second in the table with Inter down in 13th. Orlando are very much the favourites with bet365 offering 10/11 for a home win, 13/5 for a draw and 3/1 for an Inter Miami win. Odds are correct at the time of writing.

As far as the US Open Cup Final against Houston Dynamos is concerned, Betfred make Inter Miami favourites, offering 4/7 at the time of writing, with the Dynamos 18/5 and a draw 3/1. However, this could well change if Messi and/or Alba remain unavailable. Punters need to monitor this and need to look at how the other Inter Miami players step up. It must be remembered that Busquets is a huge influence and the general standard of play and morale in the camp seem to have improved since the arrival of the ex Barcelona trio.

Messi was missing with fatigue when Miami slumped to a 5-2 defeat against Atlanta. They have not lost any of the 11 matches in which the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has featured since he joined the MLS club in July.

Check out the UK’s best MLS betting sites and the best football betting sites at Betting.com.

Share this article
Article link copied!
Chris

Chris is a former athlete and a qualified PE teacher. He is a keen football fan, watching many matches at different levels throughout the season, and enjoys following many different sports. With betting and sports sites, he has a keen eye for detail and can to highlight positives and negatives for users. His experience in sport as a performer, teacher, writer and fan allows him to see things from many different perspectives.

Betting.com Editorial Promise