Lionel Messi injury update

Lionel Messi did not feature in the U.S. Open Cup final as his undisclosed injury continues to impact his incredible start at Inter Miami.

Miami lost the final 2-1 to the Houston Dynamo as a frustrated Messi watched on from the stands.

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The Argentina superstar missed Argentina's 3-0 win in Bolivia over the September international break due to an unspecified injury and he has only featured for 37 minutes for Miami since returning and was forced off in the first half of their win against Toronto on Sept. 20.

Latest update on Lionel Messi injury arrives

Gerardo 'Tata' Martino was asked extensively about Messi before and after the final and the latest update suggests Messi's season isn't over.

"It wasn’t prudent for him to play, that much is clear," Tata said.. "Not even to consider him for some minutes, because it was a risk."

“Yes, he’ll likely play before the league ends,” Martino added. " We’ll go game-by-game, defining the situation to see in what moment the medical staff tells us he’s in conditions to play without risking it."

Miami now have five more regular season games remaining as they push hard to finish in the playoffs. But it is clear that if there's any risk to Messi's fitness, he will not play.

When will Lionel Messi be fit to play again?

Miami are now just a few points off the playoff places in MLS and if they make it to the post-season, they need Messi fully fit.

Tata will likely not use Messi over the next week or so and hope his team can pull through in pivotal games against New York City and Chicago Fire to set up a grand finale

But they have to make sure they're sensible with how they handle Messi's small issue and hats off to Martino who is tackling the problem head on when many others would probably buckle under the pressure to just keep on playing Messi.