MLS
Inter Miami team news: Why isn’t Lionel Messi playing against Toronto FC?
The Herons wrapped up the Supporters’ Shield with a midweek win against Columbus Crew and Tata Martino has rested key players ahead of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Inter Miami lifted the Supporters’ Shield on Wednesday with a dramatic 3-2 victory at Columbus Crew, the reigning MLS Cup holders. But while that win clinched their first piece of silverware of 2024, there’s still plenty to play for in Miami.
The Herons can break the single-season MLS points record if they win their remaining two regular season games. However speaking after Wednesday’s win, Lionel Messi insisted that the final point tally is not a major concern for the team, saying “records are secondary.”
Messi recently returned from a lengthy injury absence and has a busy schedule coming up, with the October international break and the start of the MLS Cup playoffs later this month. Some have wondered about Messi’s fitness but the Herons boss insisted that the Argentine is in good shape.
“For him and the rest of the players who have been playing, the past two were very tough games against Charlotte and Columbus, so we have to take the accumulation of minutes into account,” Martino told reporters on Friday.
“For Leo, we understand that accumulating minutes has been good to get him back in rhythm. We will evaluate him and decide in the next few hours who will play.”
Why isn’t Lionel Messi playing for Inter Miami?
Lionel Messi looks set to start for the Herons as he continues his recovery to full match fitness. The 37-year-old has missed a large portion of the season but is still in the running for the MLS Most Valuable Player award, having recorded 17 goals and 15 assists in just 17 appearances.
However he drops to the bench at BMO Field as Tata Martino rotates his squad. Alongside Messi on the bench are Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Drake Callender.
The Herons are currently on 68 points from 32 games, with only two regular season fixtures remaining. The single-season MLS record is the 73 points recorded by New England Revolution in 2021. If Inter Miami win their final two games, they will reiterate their credentials as one of the best team’s we’ve ever seen in MLS.