Messi sidelined as defending champions Miami kick off the Leagues Cup

Lionel Messi will be unavailable for Inter Miami as the defending Leagues Cup champions start their title defense on Saturday at home against Puebla, according to Miami coach Gerardo Martino.

The 37-year-old Argentine forward sustained a right ankle injury during his nation’s triumph over Colombia in the Copa America final earlier this month.

Messi was unavailable for two MLS matches last week as well as Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game against Liga MX All-Stars.

According to Miami coach Gerardo Martino, Messi is still using a walking boot while working with the club’s trainers, but “the ankle is improving steadily.”

Last year, Messi joined Inter Miami and played a crucial role in securing the title in the inaugural Leagues Cup, a tournament featuring MLS and Mexican clubs in a World Cup-style format.

The first round of this year’s competition consists of 15 three-team groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stages along with the reigning league champions, Club America and MLS’s Columbus Crew.

Opening matches on Friday saw host Orlando dominate Montreal 4-1, DC United win 6-5 on penalties after a 3-3 draw with Atlanta, and 10-man Austin narrowly defeat Mexico’s Pumas 3-2.

Orlando’s Dagur Thorhallsson, Facundo Torres, and Ramiro Enrique built a 3-0 lead by halftime, with Martin Ojeda adding a fourth goal in the 57th minute. Montreal’s Josef Martinez scored in the 69th to prevent a shutout.

Austin’s Stefan Cleveland saved a crucial penalty from Pumas’ Guillermo Martinez in stoppage time, and despite Osman Bukari’s red card, the Texas team held on after Alexander Ring’s eighth-minute goal. Gyasi Zardes and Sebastian Driussi also scored for Austin, while Martinez and Ali Avila netted for Pumas.

DC United’s home match against Santos Laguna on Wednesday has been relocated to Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, due to concerns about field conditions at Audi Field. Leagues Cup organizers have fined DC United an undisclosed amount, and the club is accelerating the installation of a new grass field to July 31, instead of the previously scheduled August 1.