Abhay Singh
MLS legend Sacha Kljestan shares his view on Inter Miami, he believes Inter Miami has the depth to win the 2024 Leagues Cup despite the absence of injured Lionel Messi.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is now sidelined due to a ligament ailment and is expected to miss the entire competition this summer.
Messi guided the team to Leagues Cup glory last summer
Messi led the Herons to League Cup victory last summer, shortly after joining the team in July 2023. He scored ten goals and assisted once in seven matches to win his first trophy in the United States.
Messi sustained an ankle ligament injury during Argentina’s 1-0 win against Colombia in the 2024 Copa America final.
Despite slow recovery in the gym, he has not yet trained with the squad and is expected to return to the pitch in September.
The 2024 campaign of Lionel Messi has been hampered by injuries. Apart from his ankle ailment that has prevented him from playing five games so far, the Argentine star has missed a total of twelve games in all competitions because of other muscular problems.
Kljestan believes that Inter Miami are still deserving of the title even without their talisman.
He said “The reigning Leagues Cup champs have the roster to go back-to-back in this competition. Even with Lionel Messi out injured, Miami have the deepest roster among the MLS teams.”
He also added “Look for veterans Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez to lead the way. But the supporting cast can also make waves, including Diego Gomez as he returns from the Olympics. Miami have proven they can win in knockout tournaments and have quality to go the distance.”
Inter Miami defeated Toronto 4-3 in their Leagues Cup Round of 32 showdown
In their Leagues Cup Round of 32 matchup against Toronto, Inter Miami outlasted the passionate team 4-3 thanks to a remarkable display of grit and perseverance. On Thursday, August 8, the two teams squared off at Chase Stadium.
Former Barcelona star Jordi Alba scored a career-high four assists in a game against Real Madrid, assisting Matias Rojas and setting up Diego Gomez. Lorenzo Insigne halved the deficit with a 15th-minute penalty, but Luis Suarez scored in the 20th minute.
Insigne scored a penalty in the 41st minute, bringing Toronto back into the game. Rojas scored a brace in the 59th minute, and Noah Allen’s own goal in the 79th minute gave Toronto hope. However, Inter Miami were able to hold Toronto to win 4-3.
On August 12, Inter Miami will play the winner of Sporting Kansas City and Colombus Crew in the Leagues Cup Round of 16.
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