Lionel Messi ruled OUT for Inter Miami! Argentine superstar misses CF Montreal clash due to shin injury as Luis Suarez drops to bench

The Herons dropped their starting XI for their clash with CF Montreal on Sunday, and the Argentine was nowhere to be seen in the XI or on the bench. He did not enter the stadium with his teammates, per Lizzy Becherano.

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Messi was listed as questionable on the injury report with a shin injury heading into the match, after playing 90 minutes Thursday evening in their CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Nashville SC. The Herons' talisman was the victim of a crunching tackle in the match, leading many to speculate it was the reason for his exclusion Sunday.

Without their superstar, they lost their first match of the campaign, falling to MTL 3-2.

Inter Miami sit atop the Eastern Conference standings with seven points, and that comes before their match on Sunday even kicks off. Even with a loss against CF Montreal, they would end matchweek three in first place due to criteria points.

Toronto FC, Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls are all level with the Herons, but have a lesser goal-differential.

The Herons will hope to have Messi back fully fit when they take the pitch at Chase Stadium again this Wednesday in leg two of their CONCACAF Champions Cup clash wit Nashville SC. The two sides drew leg one 2-2, but Inter Miami accumulated two away goals, giving them an advantage ahead of the clash.