Lionel Messi could be left out of Inter Miami's starting lineup for the first time this season when the team hosts CF Montreal on Sunday.
The 36-year-old Argentine star has played every minute of Miami's three MLS games so far in 2024, as well as in the Concacaf Champions League draw at Nashville SC on Thursday, but assistant coach Javier Morales suggested he could be given a break in the future. of the second leg against Nashville.
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“We all know Leo and he is a player who wants to play every game,” Morales said during a press conference on Saturday. “I think we will have a conversation with him, we will see how he feels, how he is and we will try to decide what is best for him because he has played 90 minutes in each game and we will make the best decision thinking about the future.”
Messi scored to help Miami salvage a 2-2 draw against Nashville, but also suffered a nasty tackle to his shin late in the game. Morales said it was just a “blow” and was not a factor in whether he will play Sunday, although Messi was later officially listed as questionable with a shin problem on the MLS player status report.
Luis Suárez, who scored Miami's other goal against Nashville, is in a similar position to Messi, as he also started all four games this season. And the 37-year-old could also be rested against Montreal.
“Luis is fine, he has played in all the games and scored two goals in the last home game and one goal [on Thursday]”Morales said. “The injury is fine and he is fit to play.
“But what we talked about a moment ago, both Luis and Leo, all the players, have been playing a lot of minutes, especially in this stretch of games, and we have to manage it as best we can because it is a long season and we are starting We can't do anything crazy. The same as Leo, we will talk to Luis and see what is best for the team.
While Morales did not commit to his lineup, another former Barcelona player, Jordi Alba, appears set to return to the team after overcoming an illness that kept him out against Nashville.
Miami will host Nashville in the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16 on Wednesday.
