Gerardo Martino, the coach of Inter Miami, said on Monday that the Argentine star Lionel Messi wouldn’t play in the League Cup knockout game against Columbus, who are the defending champions.
After injuring his right ankle a month ago during Argentina’s 1-0 Copa America final victory over Colombia, Messi is still out.
Messi has not yet prepared with his Miami partners since getting away from a mobile boot.
The Associations Cup is a competition with MLS and Liga MX Mexican clubs, with Messi helping lift Miami to last year’s debut title.
The showdown match between the Columbus Crew, last year’s MLS kings, and Miami, this year’s top overall team in the league table, is among eight matches that will decide quarter-final pairings on Friday and Saturday.
In Monday’s round-of-16 opener, the host Seattle Sounders blanked Mexican side Jaguars 4-0.
Paul Rothrock’s header off a focusing pass from Albert Rusnak in the 32nd moment gave Seattle a 1-0 lead and Jordan Morris multiplied the Sounders’ edge in the 58th with Rusnak again on the help.
