Lionel Messi Excluded from Inter Miami Lineup for Leagues Cup Match Against Columbus

Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino announced on Monday that Argentine star Lionel Messi will not be available for the defending champions' Leagues Cup knockout match against reigning MLS champion Columbus on Tuesday. Messi is still recovering from a right ankle injury he sustained a month ago during Argentina's 1-0 victory over Colombia in the Copa America final. Despite no longer needing a walking boot, Messi has not participated in training with his Miami teammates.

The Leagues Cup is a tournament with MLS and Liga MX Mexican clubs, with Messi helping lift Miami to last year's inaugural 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 on Monday and Tuesday that will decide quarter-final pairings on Friday and Saturday.

The round of 16 opens Monday with the Seattle Sounders playing host to Mexico's Pumas. Seattle defeated the Pumas in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League final.

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Other knockout matches on Tuesday include Philadelphia at Cincinnati, Cruz Azul against Mazatlan, Tigres against New York City, Toluca at Colorado, Club America at St. Louis and San Jose at Los Angeles FC.

(This story has not been edited by staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)