- Messi has not played with Miami since mid-March due to his hamstring problem
- The 36-year-old is not yet fit to return despite pre-match training
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Lionel Messi has been left out of Inter Miami’s squad for their Champions Cup clash against Monterrey tonight after failing to recover from an injury in time.
Miami will face the Mexican club in the first leg of their round of 16 battle at the DRV PNK Stadium, where coach Tata Martino will not be able to call on his star man tonight.
Despite returning to training on Tuesday, Messi is not included in the 19-man squad for Wednesday’s first leg, with Martino deciding the risk of bringing him back too soon is greater than the potential reward.
The 36-year-old hasn’t played for Miami since mid-March, when he limped out of the team’s round of 16 victory over Nashville SC.
In his absence, Robert Taylor and Julian Gressell will flank Luis Suarez in attack once again while Martino makes no changes to his front line since the weekend’s 1-1 draw in New York City.
Lionel Messi out of Inter Miami’s Champions Cup quarterfinal match against Monterrey tonight
Messi raised hopes of a possible return when he was seen in practice on Tuesday morning.
The 36-year-old hasn’t played for Miami since limping out of last month’s win over Nashville.
Diego Gómez, David Ruiz and Sergio Busquets make up a three-man midfield, with Jordi Alba, Nicolás Freire, Tomás Avilés and Marcelo Weigandt in defense.
Messi has missed three games for Miami since suffering the hamstring problem last month, and his team earned just four points out of nine in that time.
After a 3-1 away win against DC United, Inter were thrashed 4-0 by the New York Red Bulls, before drawing 1-1 at home against NYCFC on Saturday.
Messi had only played the first three games of the MLS season before getting injured against Nashville.
This came after a long preseason tour full of controversy due to his lack of played minutes.
