Lionel Messi will be absent from the upcoming match between Inter Miami CF and Monterrey in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal due to an ongoing right hamstring issue. Despite training with the team on Tuesday, Miami's head coach, Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, emphasized the importance of not risking the players' conditions, leading to Messi's exclusion from the game.
The last time Messi played was on March 13, where he played 50 minutes against Nashville SC in the round of 16, contributing a goal and an assist in Miami's 3-1 victory. In the current season, Messi has showcased his talent with five goals and two assists in five matches across various competitions.
Martino mentioned that Messi's role for the first leg against Monterrey had not been finalized, considering his recent injury that also caused him to miss Argentina's friendlies in the previous international window.
Inter Miami CF advanced directly to the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup by winning the Leagues Cup in 2023 and subsequently defeating Nashville in the round of 16. The team's next fixture is an MLS home game against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, with Messi's availability for that match remaining uncertain.
