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<\/p>\nInter Miami\u2019s coach has issued an update on the fitness of Lionel Messi\u00a0before next week\u2019s US Open Cup Final. The 36-year-old played just 37 minutes against Toronto FC last night before he had to be substituted due to injury.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
He had been struggling for several minutes before he was withdrawn from proceedings and as the Argentine watched the rest of the match from the bench, he looked devastated. According to boss Gerardo Martino, Messi will miss their next match against Orlando City, who are second in the MLS Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no chance they will be there on Sunday,\u201d the coach told reporters. “But I do not think there is anything serious or muscle injuries. I think it is just fatigue. I know we have a final to play [on Wednesday] but they won’t go near the pitch if they can’t play.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t part of the plan. I wouldn\u2019t say it was anything new or more serious than what was there before. I don\u2019t think there are any muscular injuries and we will take it day by day.\u201d With the World Cup winner ruled out of their next match in the early hours of Monday morning, everyone affiliated with Inter Miami will hope he will be available for the cup final against Houston Dynamo on September 27.<\/p>\n
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Should Messi be unavailable for that game, Miami will want to call upon his services for some crucial league games coming up, which could determine if they can qualify for the MLS Playoffs. They will face New York City FC on September 30, before an away game at Chicago on October 4, and then a home match against Cincinnati on October 7.<\/p>\n
“The scans [Messi] had with the national team, they didn’t show any injury. We still saved him to be safe,” Martino added. “We don’t think he has a muscular injury. That’s also from a conversation I just had with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we have to continue being careful. We’ll look at it in the next few days. I’m cautious about what can happen and after talking to them, I’m less pessimistic than I was when I had to bring them off.”<\/p>\n
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