The injured Lionel Messi watched from the stands as Inter Miami lost 2-1 to the Houston Dynamo in the final of the US Open Cup.
Forward Messi, 36, was substituted against Toronto FC last week because of an “old injury” and sat out Miami’s draw at Orlando City on Monday.
Griffin Dorsey and an Amine Bassi penalty put Houston 2-0 up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Josef Martinez scored a consolation for Miami in stoppage time.
Houston keeper Andrew Tarbell made three saves as Dynamo clinched their second US Open Cup in five years.
Miami’s Spain defender, Jordi Alba, also missed the game because of an injury.
Miami manager Gerardo Martino said Argentina World Cup winner Messi’s return to full fitness was the club’s top priority.
“It was not prudent for him to play. We couldn’t even consider playing him for a few minutes because we would be taking risks,” said former Barcelona and Argentina boss Martino.
Martino said Messi will “certainly play before the league is over”.
The regular MLS season ends on October 21, with the play-offs taking place from October 25 to December 9.
Lionel has scored 11 goals and provided five assists for the MLS franchise since joining in July after his Paris St-Germain contract expired.
