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Inter Miami are struggling to sell tickets for their 2024 Leagues Cup title defence without their talismanic captain Lionel Messi. The Argentine has been out injured since the 2024 Copa America final last month.
Messi sustained a right ankle ligament injury in the 1-0 extra-time win over Colombia in the final in Miami, coming off midway through the second half. Since then, the 37-year-old has missed the last four games across competitions, and his potential return to action remains unknown.
That has had an effect on the Herons' ticket prices for their Leagues Cup title defence, with the demand cooling off in Messi's absence. A year earlier, when the Argentine announced his arrival in American football by leading his club to a memorable triumph in the competition last season, the Herons' first ever title.
At the time - as per Worldsoccer - the 'Messi effect' saw ticket prices soar to a staggering $12,000. However, fast forward 12 months, La Pulga's injury-enforced absence has seen ticket prices in free fall, with the cheapest tickets for the 4-3 Round-of-32 win over Toronto FC going for as low as $4.
Miami Herald journalist Michelle Kaufman noted the dwindling ticket prices on the Inside Miami podcast:
"I have a feeling that (Leagues Cup) TV ratings are probably down. The attendance is down. Ticket prices are down, and interest in general has probably not been as good."
The Herons are in Leagues Cup Round-of-16 action on Sunday (August 11) against Columbus Crew or Sporting Kansas City.
How has Lionel Messi fared for Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup?
Lionel Messi made a grand entrance at the 2023 edition of the Leagues Cup - the competition's inaugural edition - after arriving on a free transfer last summer after 19 years in European football.
In a sparkling campaign, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner scored in all seven games - bagging 10 goals and one assist - as the Herons won their first title in their short history.
Messi scored a delightful free-kick winner on his Inter Miami debut in the 2-1 win at Cruz Azul, and theere would be no looking back for the Herons. On his home debut, the Argentine scored twice and bagged an assist as Miami beat Atlanta 4-0.
Messi scored twice each in the first two knockout rounds - including scoring in the Round-of-16 shootout. He would score in each of the next three rounds, including the 10-9 shootout win over Nashville SC in the final.
