Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami Tuesday Leagues Cup soccer odds, props: Minor injury concern for Lionel Messi, still favored to score yet another goal

It's fair to say that Lionel Messi has made a pretty sensational impact on Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, although the Argentinian superstar still has not played an actual MLS game yet. Tuesday's game is yet another non-MLS contest, as Inter Miami visits the Philadelphia Union in Leagues Cup action. Philadelphia is easily the best team Messi will have faced to this point with Miami. His side, though, is a +125 favorite (Philly is +195) for the match, with Messi pegged at -135 to be an anytime scorer. He is expected to play through a minor injury. Click here for expert picks.

Again, I want to remind casual soccer fans how bad Inter Miami was before Messi got there. They were last in MLS with 18 points. They still are, because all five of Messi's games have been the Leagues Cup, which features every MLS and Liga MX (the Mexican league) team. The top three Leagues Cup teams qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Inter Miami is 5-0 in the competition and has made it to the semifinals. Messi has totaled eight goals -- the most of any player in the competition -- and has scored at least one in every match. Teammate Robert Taylor has also hugely benefited, as after scoring just five goals in 52 MLS appearances before Messi's arrival, Taylor has four goals in five games with him. Taylor is +275 for an anytime goal tonight.

Messi did apparently tweak his ankle during Monday's practice, but coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino downplayed it: "I was only at a part of the session because I had a meeting afterwards and was finishing preparing, so I didn't see exactly what happened. But if it was something serious, I'm sure everyone would have been shocked," Martino said before his team flew out to Philly. "Since everyone was fine, I imagine nothing happened."

Philadelphia is a good team. It reached the MLS Cup last year, losing in penalty kicks to Los Angeles FC. This year, the Union are third in the East and have just one home loss all year, with the defeat coming back in March. They are a strong defensive club, having allowed only four goals in five Leagues Cup games. Miami has scored 17 goals in the competition. The teams did play an MLS match in Philly on June 24 and the Union rolled 4-1. Taylor had the Miami goal.

If Miami wins, it would host the Leagues Cup final Saturday if Nashville loses in the other semifinal match against Mexican side Monterrey, which is a short favorite. Inter Miami has never lifted a trophy of any kind. 

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