Mascherano Reveals the Truth About Messi's Fitness Ahead of Crucial Inter Miami Clash

Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano has confirmed that Lionel Messi will be absent from the Herons' crucial Leagues Cup encounter against Pumas UNAM.

Concerns arose when Messi was substituted after just 11 minutes during Miami's fixture against Necaxa on Saturday evening. The club subsequently announced that the Argentine had sustained a minor muscle problem in his right leg.

While Inter Miami has not provided a specific timeframe for Messi's recovery, Mascherano disclosed his star player's condition before his squad's Phase One concluding match against the Liga MX outfit Pumas UNAM.

"I had a conversation with him yesterday and the club issued a statement that was quite clear. It's a minor injury, which is positive news," Mascherano stated during his pre-match media briefing.

"Given all the speculation surrounding Leo whenever he's unavailable for a match, we prefer not to establish a specific timeline. He's an exceptional player with excellent recovery abilities and typically bounces back from injuries rapidly.

"He will definitely be unavailable for the match [against Pumas UNAM] but following that we'll monitor his progress and once he's fit, he'll rejoin the team," Mascherano explained.

The absence of Messi, who serves as the Herons' primary creative force and top scorer, represents a significant setback for Inter Miami. The eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient has recorded 33 goal contributions across 31 matches this campaign, netting 24 goals.

The former Barcelona star also boasts nine assists, including two in Inter Miami's Leagues Cup opening match against Atlas. Messi was instrumental in both goals during his team's thrilling 2–1 triumph, helping secure maximum points for the Herons.

With their tournament qualification hanging in the balance, Inter Miami must find a solution to overcome Pumas UNAM without their skipper. If the Eastern Conference team loses in regular time or falls in a penalty shootout, they risk elimination from the Leagues Cup knockout rounds.

However, there's positive news for Mascherano's squad as Maximiliano Falcón will be eligible to feature on Wednesday evening. The defender received a red card during Inter Miami's 2–2 stalemate with Necaxa, but the dismissal has been overturned.

Inter Miami face Pumas UNAM on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m. ET.