Lionel Messi was sidelined, unable to participate in the US Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo, despite having been granted time off to recover from his previous match against Orlando City. Muscle pain prevented him from even making it to the reserve list.

Nonetheless, Messi made his presence felt at DRV PNK Stadium, donning a black shirt as he sat with his wife and children in the stands, offering his support to his teammates in their quest for their first championship.

Among greetings with several prominent figures, Messi observed the match with a contemplative demeanor. Unfortunately, the joy of victory eluded him and Inter Miami as they put up a lackluster performance, conceding two goals amidst a plethora of missed opportunities.

Messi’s attacking partners, including Leonardo Campana, Robert Taylor, Facundo Farias, and Josef Martinez, failed to make a significant impact. Consequently, Inter Miami had to reconcile themselves with a 1-2 defeat, witnessing Houston Dynamo clinch the US Open Cup title right on their home turf.