Will Lionel Messi play against Tigres in Leagues Cup 2024?

Tigres and Inter Miami will go up against each other this Saturday, August 3, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Although both teams have already secured their place in the round of 16, top spot of Group N is at stake. With both teams tied on three points, they will be eager to win.

Inter Miami are one of the favourites to claim MLS due to the strength of their star-studded squad that includes Leo Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. However, Tigres are a formidable opponent representing Mexican soccer, boasting one of the best squads in their respective division.

Who will play for Inter Miami against Tigres?

Since they have already secured their place in the knockout rounds of the Leagues Cup 2024, Tata Martino has indicated that he plans to rotate the Inter Miami lineup against Tigres, focusing on the round of 16. “Starting tomorrow, if we continue to advance, we will start playing every three or four days, and if there is a time to make changes, it is tomorrow’s match,” commented the Herons’ coach.

The question that Inter Miami and their fans have been asking every game since the end of the Copa America 2024 is: Will Messi play? Although the Argentine star managed to win Copa América with Argentina, he had to come off due to an injury and has not been seen on the pitch since.

Given his performance in the 2023 edition of the Leagues Cup, where he was the MVP and helped the Herons win their first title, there is huge anticipation to see him play against the Mexicans.

However, Messi will not play against Tigres as he is still recovering from his ankle injury. “The boot has been removed, but he hasn’t been out on the field yet,” Tata admitted to the media. While this is a positive sign, the club are not rushing his recovery and hope to have him available for the knockout matches.