Lionel Messi not playing, in walking boot
Messi, Argentina win second straight Copa America final
USA TODAY Sports’ Safid Deen recaps the Copa America final where Argentina defeated Colombia for their second-straight title in this tournament.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi wore a walking boot on his injured right ankle while attending Inter Miami’s match against Toronto on Wednesday night.
Messi sat alongside his wife and children during the match at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium.
Messi was ruled out of the Toronto match, and won’t play in Inter Miami’s next match Saturday against Chicago as he continues to recover from his Copa America ankle injury.
Messi has a ligament injury, Inter Miami announced on Tuesday, after a full evaluation on the two-time Copa America and World Cup champion.
Messi suffered the injury during Argentina’s 1-0 win in the Copa America final on Sunday against Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Messi did not travel with his Argentine teammates back to Argentina to celebrate the Copa America title, staying home to begin his recovery.
A timeline for Messi’s return to injury is indefinite. Inter Miami said Messi’s future availability “will be determined by periodic assessments and the progress of his recovery.”
