Lionel Messi’s status ahead of US Open Cup Final

[{"selector":"#anim-482488c7-7d02-4ac6-8a94-595c68d4bd94 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.531249906136225%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Argentine World Cup winner, Messi, won't play against Houston Dynamo on Wednesday.

[{"selector":"#anim-8d771cd1-d0a9-4b6c-9e69-a41d25a37102 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.90624987200394%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Messi didn't train when media was present due to injury from World Cup qualification.

[{"selector":"#anim-83f1f885-d3a4-48f7-a479-2708bb715087 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] He missed two MLS games and a national team match against Bolivia.

[{"selector":"#anim-6734254d-7a7f-4da5-a392-02b7eaa27e44 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.208984279180726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Efforts by Tata Martino and Inter Miami staff to get Messi fit.

[{"selector":"#anim-c86b0949-1a06-4c75-bae2-b613fa8b2b91 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.17499990397451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] As of Tuesday, Messi and Jordi Alba hadn't trained, raising concerns.

[{"selector":"#anim-0f760faf-a800-424e-bcbc-6793998b70de [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.246337776828504%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Messi will not start but sit on the bench for US Open Cup final.

[{"selector":"#anim-498fbe0f-284c-4816-b4ed-cff70da55c24 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.17499990397451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Injuries are not muscular; Messi deals with old scar tissue, Jordi has muscle pain.