Inter Miami, the MLS team co-owned by David Beckham, has been eliminated from playoff contention, making their final two regular-season matches mere formalities. One question that arose following their elimination was whether Lionel Messi would participate in these games. The matches against Charlotte FC, Inter Miami’s opponents, carry significance for Charlotte FC, who are still in the playoff race and need every point possible to secure a postseason spot.
The two teams will face each other twice to conclude the season, with the first match taking place on Wednesday in Ft. Lauderdale and the second in Charlotte on Saturday. As Decision Day approaches across the MLS, The Sporting News provides updates on Messi’s availability for these fixtures.
On Wednesday, October 18, Messi will not play against Charlotte FC. The match falls less than 24 hours after Messi represented Argentina in a World Cup qualifying match against Peru. The match was rescheduled from an earlier date to accommodate Inter Miami’s progression in the U.S. Open Cup. Messi played the full 90 minutes in the match and scored both goals in a 2-0 victory. These goals made Messi the all-time leading goal scorer in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying history, surpassing Luis Suarez.
However, Messi has confirmed that he will play in the regular season finale against Charlotte FC on Saturday, October 21. After the win over Peru, Messi told Argentine media that he will train and participate in the remaining game. It remains uncertain what role he will play, as Inter Miami might limit his minutes, especially considering the match will be played on a turf field at Bank of America Stadium. Although Messi has previously stated that playing on turf is not an issue for him, he skipped Inter Miami’s September 16 away game against Atlanta United, the only other Inter Miami fixture on turf this season. In Messi’s absence, Inter Miami lost that match 5-2.
Considering Messi’s recent injury and Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino’s attribution of the injury to “fatigue,” it is possible that Messi will have a limited role in this game as he prepares for a long offseason layoff.
Following the conclusion of the 2023 MLS season, Messi will have a long winter break, with occasional international duty. Inter Miami will travel to China for two friendly matches against Qingdao Hainiu FC and Chengdu Rongcheng on November 5 and 6, respectively, once the MLS regular season concludes. It is unclear if Messi will be part of the traveling party. After the China trip, Inter Miami will have no games until the start of the 2024 season, which is yet to be precisely determined. Messi will not participate in club fixtures again until either February or March of 2024, depending on the start of the MLS season and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Although there will be no club games, Messi will still feature in Argentina’s November qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil. Rumors of Messi going on loan this winter were flatly rejected by the player himself, indicating that he will not join another club during the gap between now and the start of the 2024 Inter Miami season.
For more details on when Messi’s 2024 season will begin, you can read the article here.
In conclusion, while Inter Miami’s remaining matches may be of little consequence for them, Messi’s availability for these games holds significance for Charlotte FC’s playoff aspirations. It remains to be seen how much playing time Messi will have in these matches, considering his recent injury and the turf field at Bank of America Stadium. After these matches, Messi will have a long offseason break before returning to action for Inter Miami in 2024, with the exception of participating in Argentina’s November qualifying fixtures.
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