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Lionel Messi will sit out Inter Miami’s MLS derby against Orlando City on Sunday as he continues to recover from a minor muscle injury, head coach Javier Mascherano has confirmed.
Speaking on Saturday, Mascherano said it would be unwise to take risks with the Argentine star given the busy schedule ahead.
“He is fine, but it would be crazy to risk taking him to Orlando because of all that is ahead,” he explained. “We are optimistic that he will soon return with us.”
Messi sustained the injury to his upper right leg during Miami’s win over Necaxa on August 2 and also missed the club’s last Leagues Cup group stage match.
The team, currently fifth in the Eastern Conference, trails leaders Philadelphia by eight points but has three games in hand. They are one point ahead of Orlando.
Following the Florida derby, Inter Miami will host LA Galaxy on August 16 before facing Mexico’s Tigres UANL in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal just three days later.
In Messi’s absence, the club have been lifted by the impact of fellow Argentine Rodrigo De Paul, who netted his first goal for the Herons in a 3-1 win over Pumas UNAM to secure their place in the next round of the competition.
