Messi to miss Miami-Orlando match with scar tissue problem - ESPN

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Inter Miami coach Gerardo «Tata» Martino has confirmed that Lionel Messi will not be fit for Sunday's game against Florida rivals Orlando City, after revealing that the World Cup winner is still dealing with a scar tissue problem suffered while with the Argentina national team earlier this month.

Miami returned to training Friday without Messi and his former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba, who both left Wednesday's 4-0 win over Toronto FC before the end of the first half, just four days after they skipped the team's trip to Atlanta.

— Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

«Basically, Leo is still dealing with his old scar tissue, and Jordi with muscle pain,» Martino said at a news conference Friday. «They are both day-to-day.»

The veteran Argentine coach added that he has full faith in Messi to pull himself from games when he feels it's necessary.

«The truth is I have not spoken again to Leo since the match, but his experience gives him the capacity even during a match to know when to stop, when to say enough, and when to take precautions,» said Martino.

«It seems very prudent at this stage in his career that he does that more than ever. And I say this on behalf of all of us, because we want to see Leo on the pitch for a long time. It is good for me that he is aware that he notices when he has to stop this, like he did in the Ecuador game.»

Messi scored the lone goal in 1-0 World Cup qualifying win for Argentina over Ecuador just over two weeks ago, but uncharacteristically left that game before the final whistle and then wasn't in the 18-man squad for the game at Bolívia a few days later.

Messi trained twice after missing the Atlanta defeat — the team's first since his arrival — and