Leo MessiHe missed Wednesday’s US Open Cup final due to injury and will not be available Inter Miami hosts New York City this Saturday for a major MLS matchup.

He waited until the last minute, but the No. 10 was ruled out of the game due to his muscular problems, which forced him out against Toronto and sidelined him for the last three games.

Inter Miami has 32 points after 29 games in MLS, while ninth-placed New York City in the East (the last place to qualify for the playoffs) has 37 points after 31 games.

Messi asked for a substitution in the first half of the match against Toronto on September 20 (4-0 win), he did not play in the Florida derby against Orlando City on Sunday the 24th (1-1) and he did not take the goal in the cup final in Inter Miami’s 1-2 draw against Houston Dynamo. Account failed.

The Argentine star has had a very busy schedule, including all the games with Inter Miami in two months, including his call-up with the Argentina national team (he played against Ecuador and rested against Bolivia).

The injury has curtailed Inter Miami’s impressive run since Messi arrived in August, scoring 11 goals in 12 games for the men in pink and winning the first title in their brief history (the League Cup).

Martino insisted after Wednesday’s final that he did not want to take a “risk” with Messi and that it was “not prudent” for him to play the match for the trophy.

“Yes, he will definitely play before the end of the league (…) From today we will define the situation and play when the medical department tells us that he is risk-free,” he added. .