MLS
Inter Miami without key players due to international fixtures
Tata Martino’s side take on NY Red Bulls this weekend but will be missing a number of regular starters, including the injured Lionel Messi.
Inter Miami picked up an important 3-1 victory over DC United last weekend to get their MLS campaign back on track. The Herons were without Lionel Messi due to injury but 37-year-old Luis Suarez arrived as a second half substitute to score twice and win the game for Miami.
Lionel Messi is suffering from an “overload in his right hamstring”, Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino explained. He will not be fit to play against NY Red Bulls on Saturday, one of a number of Miami stars set to miss out.
This weekend’s fixtures coincide with a FIFA international break, with many of MLS’ best players travelling around the world to represent their nations. Inter Miami are one of the teams most affected by the international fixtures.
Which Inter Miami players are on international duty?
Last weekend’s victory in the capital was a good response after defeat to CF Montreal in the previous league fixture. However four of the players who started for Miami against DC will not be involved this weekend.
Goalkeeper Drake Callender has been called up to USMNT for their CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against Jamaica. Callender, still only 26, received his first international call-up last year but is yet to feature for the US.
Miami will also be without a trio of promising young midfielders, leaving them short-handed in a crucial area of the pitch. Diego Gomez (Paraguay), David Ruiz (Honduras) and Federico Redondo (Argentina U-23) are all away on international duty. Shanyder Borgelin and Israel Boatwright have also been called up for Haiti and the Dominican Republic, respectively.
The Herons are, however, bolstered by Robert Taylor’s decision not to join up with Finland for their upcoming Euro 2024 play-off semi-final against Wales. Taylor said he wanted to feature for Miami instead.
When will Lionel Messi return for Inter Miami?
Those international absences compound the injury to Lionel Messi, which robs Inter Miami of their captain and creative spark. Messi has remained eager to represent his nation but his fitness issue has prevented him from playing for the World Champions during this international break.
“Argentina captain Lionel Messi won’t be able to join the call-up for the #USA friendlies due to a small right hamstring injury,” a statement from the Argentinian national team explained.
Messi was withdrawn just five minutes into the second half of Inter Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup victory over Nashville SC. Speaking after the game Martino said that the Argentine had been substitution after a precaution but, after pulling out of the national team squad, it appears that the issue if more serious than first though.
“Messi’s injury must be dealt with week by week, and we will evaluate it,” Martino said. “We’ll continuously evaluate what he’s doing. The objective is for him to arrive to be able to play in the quarterfinals of Concacaf Champions Cup. We don’t want to take a risk.”