MLS
Why isn’t Lionel Messi playing for Inter Miami against CF Montreal?
The Herons have a busy schedule this year with MLS, Leagues Cup and CONCACAF Champions League fixtures to contend with.
Ahead of kick-off at Chase Stadium it was announced that Inter Miami would be without Lionel Messi for their MLS clash against CF Montreal. The 36-year-old had been involved in every minute for the Herons so far this season but was not named in the squad for Sunday’s game.
The Herons were looking to keep up an impressive start to the season, winning two and drawing one of their opening three MLS fixtures, but they fell to defeat against an impressive CF Montreal side. Neither Messi nor Luis Suarez started for Miami against Montreal; Robert Taylor and Leonardo Campana took their places in the forward line.
Miami head coach Tata Martino had hinted at this earlier this week. There has been no official word on any injury for Messi, although he did suffer a hefty whack on the shin during the CONCACAF Champions Cup draw against Nashville midweek.
At Chase Stadium on Sunday reporters noticed that Messi did not arrive with the rest of the team. Without the Argentine in attendance Luis Suarez, Messi’s usual partner, entered the stadium alone.
Miami staff aware of Lionel Messi burden
Messi made an incredible start to life in Miami last year, catapulting an underperforming team to the Leagues Cup trophy and nearly pushing them into the post-season. The team fell just short on that last aim but this year, with a full pre-season under his belt, Messi is expected to have Miami competing at the top of the Eastern Conference.
The biggest issue for Miami could well be managing his game time. The Argentine has been playing professional soccer for two decades and rarely missed a game throughout his career. Even at the age of 36 he remains a key player for the Argentinian national team and balancing his playing time across 2024 will be a concern for the Herons.
Inter Miami assistant coach Javier Morales explained: “We already know Leo and he is a player who wants to play every game. I think we will have a conversation with him, see how he feels, see how he is and try to decide what is best for him because he has played 90 minutes every game and we will make the best decision thinking about the future.”
“I am surprised by how much he competes. He is a player who has just won the World Cup and is now playing in the CONCAChampions and wants to win it. He plays a rondo and wants to win. That’s something that really surprises me that he has that ability and that is why he is who he is,” Morales added.