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Messi to Miss Next Two Miami MLS Matches with Ankle Injury

Lionel Messi will miss the Olympics but could feature at a sixth World Cup in 2026 © Patrick McDermott / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Lionel Messi will miss the Olympics but could feature at a sixth World Cup in 2026 © Patrick McDermott / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
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Messi to Miss Next Two Miami MLS Matches with Ankle Injury

Lionel Messi will miss the Olympics but could feature at a sixth World Cup in 2026 © Patrick McDermott / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Lionel Messi will miss the Olympics but could feature at a sixth World Cup in 2026 © Patrick McDermott / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Lionel Messi will miss Inter Miami's next two Major League Soccer matches after injuring his right ankle in Argentina's Copa America final triumph, Miami coach Gerardo Martino said Tuesday.

The 37-year-old Argentine star went down in the 64th minute of a 1-0 victory over Colombia, hobbling off the field with cameras showing a huge swollen ankle, AFP reported.

Messi is set to miss Inter Miami home matches on Wednesday against Toronto FC and on Saturday against the Chicago Fire.

"There will be further testing to determine the severity of the situation," Martino said. "He has to have more tests and wait for the results."

Messi, in an Instagram posting, was thankful for messages of concern and support he received after Sunday's match.

"I want is to thank everyone for the messages and greetings. I'm fine, thank God, and I hope I can soon be on the field again enjoying what I like to do most," Messi wrote.

With 14 wins and five draws from 23 matches, Inter Miami ranks second in MLS and the Eastern Conference on 47 points, one behind Cincinnati, which routed Miami 6-1 on July 6.

Inter Miami is set to begin defending the Leagues Cup title against MLS and Mexican league rivals next week.

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Trio of Saudi Clubs Chasing Silverware in Asian Champions League Elite 

Football - Asian Champions League - Quarter Final - Yokohama F Marinos v Al-Nassr - Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 26, 2025 Al-Nassr's Jhon Duran celebrates scoring their first goal with Cristiano Ronaldo and teammates. (Reuters)
Football - Asian Champions League - Quarter Final - Yokohama F Marinos v Al-Nassr - Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 26, 2025 Al-Nassr's Jhon Duran celebrates scoring their first goal with Cristiano Ronaldo and teammates. (Reuters)
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Trio of Saudi Clubs Chasing Silverware in Asian Champions League Elite 

Football - Asian Champions League - Quarter Final - Yokohama F Marinos v Al-Nassr - Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 26, 2025 Al-Nassr's Jhon Duran celebrates scoring their first goal with Cristiano Ronaldo and teammates. (Reuters)
Football - Asian Champions League - Quarter Final - Yokohama F Marinos v Al-Nassr - Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 26, 2025 Al-Nassr's Jhon Duran celebrates scoring their first goal with Cristiano Ronaldo and teammates. (Reuters)

Saudi clubs including Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are dominating the Asian Champions League Elite, accounting for all but one of the semifinalists in action this week.

In three quarterfinals played on the weekend, the three Saudi Pro League teams won with a combined scoreline of 14-1. At least one is guaranteed a place in the final on May 3 as four-time champion Al-Hilal meets two-time finalist Al-Ahli in the first of the two semis at Jeddah.

On Wednesday, Al-Nassr takes on Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, the only non-Saudi club still in contention for the continental title. Kawasaki edged 2011 champion Al Sadd of Qatar 3-2 after extra time on Sunday to advance to the semifinals for the first time.

With all playoff games taking place in Jeddah, there is home advantage and big crowds supporting the three domestic clubs that are laden with high-profile international stars.

Al-Nassr thumped last season's runnerup Yokohama F.Marinos of Japan 4-1 on Saturday, with goals coming from Ronaldo, former Liverpool star Sadio Mane and two from Jhon Duran, who signed from Premier League club Aston Villa in January.

The journey to Jeddah was also a punishing one for teams in the middle of domestic seasons in East Asia.

“Our local league is our priority,” Buriram United coach Osmar Loss said after his Thai club lost 3-0 to Al-Ahli on Saturday. “It’s a long trip to Jeddah and back and I needed to protect our main players.”

In the most lopsided of the quarterfinals, South Korean club Gwangju FC, making its first appearance in the tournament, was thrashed 7-0 by Al-Hilal on Friday.

Al-Hilal now faces Jeddah club Al-Ahli on Tuesday in a bid to reach its 10th title match in the Asian competition. Al-Ahli, fourth in the domestic league, had a 3-2 win over Al-Hilal in February with all three goals scored by England striker Ivan Toney.

With other former Premier League stars such as Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino on the scoresheet against Buriram United, coach Matthias Jaissle believes Al-Ahli is well placed to advance to a third final and then to capture a first title.

“I congratulated the players for making it to the semifinals but from now on, they have to focus on what’s best – rehabilitate, rest, and get back to the best physical level to perform against Al Hilal,” Jaissle said. “Everyone knows it’s going to be an intense match and we need to be in top shape.”