In a significant announcement, Inter Miami’s coach, Tata Martino, has made it clear that Lionel Messi will not be taking the field in any of the remaining MLS matches for the 2023 season. This decision follows Inter Miami’s recent 1-0 loss to Cincinnati, which dashed their playoff hopes.
Messi, who made a brief appearance in the Cincinnati match after recovering from an injury, had missed the four previous games due to a muscle injury sustained during a 4-0 win over Toronto. This included a painful loss in the US Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo. Unfortunately, Messi’s debut season in Major League Soccer ended in disappointment.
Coach Martino cited caution in minimizing potential risks as the reason for Messi’s absence from the final two regular season MLS matches. Despite Messi’s recent impressive performance with Argentina in their 2-0 victory over Peru, he will be sidelined when Inter Miami faces Charlotte at DRV PNK and for the season finale against Charlotte in North Carolina this Saturday.
Martino stated, “We will assess not only Messi but all players who have been away on national team duty since we are out of playoff contention and don’t want to take any unnecessary risks.”
Focusing on Inter Miami’s current objectives, the coach added, “We are determined to compete and conclude the season on a high note. We aim to improve our team’s image, which has been underwhelming in the last few games. For the coaching staff, this is a crucial period as we welcome back players who have been absent for a while, and these matches will help us make decisions for the upcoming season.”
Gloria