Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino has stated that Lionel Messi is unlikely to feature in any more MLS matches during the remainder of the 2023 season, according to a report from the Daily Mail.
This decision has been prompted by Inter Miami’s failure to qualify for the playoffs, marking the conclusion of their season, notably culminating in a 1-0 home defeat to Cincinnati earlier this month.
Despite his recovery from injury to make himself available for that particular match, Messi’s time on the field that night was limited to just 35 minutes.
His inaugural MLS season has concluded in disappointment, as he missed the preceding four matches due to a muscle injury sustained during a 4-0 victory over Toronto, including a loss in the US Open Cup final to the Houston Dynamo.
With only two regular-season MLS matches remaining, Coach Martino of Miami has suggested that their team captain, Messi, is unlikely to participate to mitigate any potential risks.
Messi will not be part of the Wednesday match against Charlotte at DRV PNK Stadium, especially after his recent involvement and scoring twice for Argentina in their 2-0 victory against Peru on Tuesday.
The final game of Miami’s season is scheduled against the same opponent in North Carolina this Saturday.
Martino has explained, “We will assess not only Leo but all players who have been away with their national teams when they return on Thursday, as we are out of the playoffs, and we want to avoid any unnecessary risks.”
Despite the disappointment of missing the playoffs, Miami’s overall season has shown promise since Lionel Messi’s arrival.
In a matter of months, they have transformed from being at the bottom of the MLS standings to playoff contenders, reaching the finals of the US Open Cup and winning the Leagues Cup.
With the Barcelona legend set to be with them from the beginning of the next season, there is a sense of optimism within the franchise that they can make further strides in the league standings.
Coach Martino is committed to using the remaining two matches as a foundation for improvement.
We want to compete, and it’s our responsibility to finish the season as strongly as possible,” he emphasized.
In some ways, we aim to enhance the team’s image based on our recent performance.
For the coaching staff, it’s a significant opportunity as we’re regaining players we haven’t had for a while, and we can use these matches to evaluate and make decisions for the upcoming season.
