Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami status remains in doubt ahead of final playoff push
Lionel Messi was on the practice field with Inter Miami on Tuesday, though it remains unclear when, or if, the seventime Ballon d’Or winner will play again this season.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino declined to provide any timetable regarding Messi when he spoke with reporters before the practice session.
The team – who are still trying to make Major League Soccer’s playoffs – play in Chicago on Wednesday. Messi has been listed as day to day for much of the past month and has barely played in that span.
The 36-year-old has missed four of Inter Miami’s last five matches, plus another for Argentina in that span because of what was initially called fatigue, by both his club and country. The only game he didn’t miss during that stretch was a 37-minute appearance against Toronto on 20 September, and he had to leave that match before half-time because of a hamstring problem.
Messi made an appearance Monday night at the team’s stadium for a promotional event. He was not made available for comment to most media outlets that were in attendance at the event, and no update on his injury was provided.
Inter Miami enter the week 13th in the Eastern Conference, four places and four points out of the last playoff spot from that side of MLS. A loss on Wednesday would not eliminate Inter Miami from the playoff mix, but it would put a significant dent in the team’s postseason hopes.
After the match in Chicago, Inter Miami have three MLS games remaining – Saturday at home against Cincinnati, a rescheduled match at home against Charlotte on 18 October and the finale at Charlotte on 21 October.
Messi has scored 11 goals in 12