Messi has not yet trained with his Miami teammates since escaping a walking boot.
The Leagues Cup is a tournament with MLS and Liga MX Mexican clubs, with Messi helping lift Miami to last year’s inaugural title.
The showdown match between the Columbus Crew, last year’s MLS kings, and Miami, this year’s top overall team in the league table, is among eight matches that will decide quarter-final pairings on Friday and Saturday.
In Monday’s round-of-16 opener, the host Seattle Sounders blanked Mexican side Pumas 4-0.
Paul Rothrock’s header off a centering pass from Albert Rusnak in the 32nd minute gave Seattle a 1-0 lead and Jordan Morris doubled the Sounders’ edge in the 58th with Rusnak again on the assist.
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