Messi out of US Open Cup: how many finals has he missed in his career?

Messi was left out of Inter Miami’s starting XI in the US Open Cup final, as Tata Martino’s side went up against Houston Dynamo. Fans were shocked to see the eleven selected when it was revealed that not only was the Argentine out of the side, but that he didn’t even make the match day squad.

Martino did not give anything away

Despite the fact that Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino had kept his cards close to his chest, not willing to give up whether or not Messi would start and even saying he would “wait until the last minute” to decide, in the end Messi’s fitness did not hold up.

Miami had to face a ferocious Houston side without their talisman who had until the final carried the weight of the team on his shoulders.

How many finals has Messi missed?

This is not the first time that Messi has missed a final, however, it is true that the player has been in the huge majority of final round games for his side.

We have to go back to 2006 for the last time Messi did not appear in a final, where the ex-Barcelona player did not feature even on the bench for the Spanish side in the FIFA World Club Cup final against Internacional de Porto Alegre, held in Japan.

On that day, the Brazilian side were victorious; Inter Miami will be looking to be on the other side of history against Houston Dynamo.