Messi's Inter Miami suffer big injury blow in loss at FC Cincinnati | OneFootball

Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari had to depart with an apparent leg injury in the 25th minute of Wednesday night's match at FC Cincinnati, dealing what could potentially be a major blow to Lionel Messi and company's Supporters' Shield chances.

The 39-year-old was able to depart under his own power, giving way for deputy Rocco Rios Novo.

Miami entered the match winners of five in a row, to pull within five points of Philadelphia atop the Shield and Eastern Conference standings entering the midweek slate. Messi has been a huge catalyst of that run, setting an MLS record by scoring multiple goals in all five of those games.

But Ustari has been a consistent steadying presence for a side that allows plenty of chances on the other end, making 50 saves across 16 matches and keeping three MLS clean sheets.

His best performance of 2025 so far probably came in Miami's FIFA Club World Cup opener, where he made seven saves -- including one of a penalty just before halftime -- to help Miami gut out a 0-0 draw against Al Ahly of Egypt.

'Keeping options open

And even if he's only playing like a roughly average MLS goalkeeper according to analytic numbers, the reality is that the Herons' other options are limited. Drake Callender, last year's starter, continues to deal with sports hernia issues. Recently acquired William Yabrough has yet to play for Miami since coming aboard as a free agent in May.

That left Rios Novo as manager Javier Mascherano's choice to deputize on Wednesday in only his 20th career MLS appearance and fourth this season.

Ustari was still in the match when Cincinnati opened the scoring in the 16th minute, with Gerardo Valenzuela finishing past Ustari to the far post after a wonderful setup from Luca Orellano.

Ustari is a longtime friend of Messi from their days representing Argentina's youth national teams as teenagers. He has played in La Liga with Getafe and for both Atlas and Pachuca in Liga MX, where he spent the majority of his senior career.