"It is my dream to play against him" - Liga MX star keen on facing Inter Miami star Lionel Messi 

Santos Laguna forward Ramiro Sordo has said that it is his dream to face Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi. The two could come up against each other in the ongoing Leagues Cup tournament.

Santos Laguna have work to do if they want to make it to the next stage, as they sit bottom of the three-team Group K after losing their only match so far. Miami, meanwhile, are top of Group N after they beat Puebla 2-0 in the opening fixture.

There is a chance that the Liga MX outfit and Inter Miami face each other later in the competition, and Sordo is excited by that prospect. He left Newell's Old Boys — Messi's childhood club — just weeks before the two played out a 1-1 pre-season draw in February this year.

Speaking to Mexican outlet TJ Sports (via Intermiami.news), Sordo affirmed that Messi is the player he wants to play against the most. The 24-year-old Argentine said:

"Yes, Messi [is the player he wants to face the most], it is my dream to play against him. I could have played him in a friendly but I had already moved here, but yes, my dream this summer is to be able to face Messi. I hope we can progress so we can make it happen."

Miami's next Leagues Cup match is against Tigres on August 4 at the NRG Stadium while Santos Laguna play Atlanta at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium the following day.

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Lionel Messi first made his mark at Inter Miami in Leagues Cup

Inter Miami are the reigning Leagues Cup champions, and they have Lionel Messi to thank for that. He participated in the tournament not long after his free summer transfer from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last year.

Messi finished the tournament with 10 goals and an assist, scoring at least once in each of the seven games he played in. This was how the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner announced himself in the USA, and he will be looking to help his team defend the title this month.

However, it is unclear when the 37-year-old will return to action after he suffered an ankle ligament injury on international duty last month. The Argentine legend has been seen wearing a protective boot and hasn't featured in Inter Miami's MLS and Leagues Cup games since then (via GOAL).

So far, the former Barcelona superstar has racked up 12 goals in as many MLS games this term, with nine more assists to his name. His team sits five points clear at the top of the league table after 25 matches.