Messi enjoyed a day off on Sunday while Inter Miami faced a 3-2 defeat against CF Montreal. Suarez and Busquets didn’t start but joined as substitutes in the second half.
Miami suffered their initial loss this season. The 36-year-old Argentine icon participated in all three MLS games in 2024 and the Concacaf Champions League match against Nashville SC. Assistant coach Javier Morales suggested Messi would be given a break before the Nashville rematch.
Morales mentioned Leo’s desire to play every match and the importance of considering his well-being. They plan to discuss with him, assess his condition, and make the best decision for his future, given his consistent 90 Minutes performances.
Messi netted a goal to secure a 2-2 tie against Nashville but endured a tough tackle on his shin towards the end. Morales described it as a minor “knock,” indicating it wouldn’t affect his availability for Sunday’s match. However, Messi was later marked as questionable due to a shin problem on the MLS player status report.
Suarez, who scored in the previous home game and on Thursday, had been a regular starter but began on the bench. Despite this, Morales confirmed he was fit and ready to play, emphasizing Suarez’s good form and fitness.
Morales mentioned that Luis is doing well, having played all matches and scoring goals in recent games. He confirmed Luis’s fitness and readiness to play, highlighting his good form and recovery from any injury concerns.
At last.
Morales emphasized the importance of managing player minutes due to the busy schedule, considering it’s early in the season. They plan to discuss with Luis, similar to Leo, to make decisions that benefit the team. Additionally, Alba, another former Barcelona player, scored a beautiful goal in Miami’s comeback attempt against Montreal. Miami is set to face Nashville in the Concacaf Champions Cup round-of-16 return leg on Wednesday.
