Will Lionel Messi’s injuries affect Inter Miami’s playoff run?
Safid Deen reports Messi is dealing with fatigue and injuries, forcing him to sit out games, it could affect the champion chances for Inter Miami.
SportsPulse, USA TODAY
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have a chance to win their second championship together Wednesday night.
But whether Messi will play – and help deliver another title – remains the biggest question.
Inter Miami will host the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup final at 8:30 p.m. ET inside DRV PNK Stadium.
Messi is considered a game-time decision for Wednesday night’s match, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said Tuesday.
Messi is dealing with an old, nagging injury that has been unspecified, that caused him to miss three matches (two with Inter Miami and one with Argentina) earlier this month.
It could also affect how much Messi will play Wednesday – if he does – and in Inter Miami’s final five matches of the regular season.
Follow along here for live updates from the U.S. Open Cup final on Messi and Inter Miami vs. Houston.
The U.S. Open Cup final on Sept. 27 will be available to stream on the CBS Sports Golazo Network.
Could Messi start the Open final and leave early? Could Messi come off the bench as a late substitute? Or does he play at all?
The only reason Messi’s availability is in question is because of Inter Miami’s pursuit of another title.
If it was just another match, Messi would not likely play, Martino said Tuesday.
“We’re talking about Leo: We have risk all the time, and we have to lower that risk,” Martino said.
“If it wasn’t a final, we wouldn’t take any risk. But because it is a final, there is a chance we take that risk.”
Messi is dealing with scar tissue from a previous injury he sustained.
Martino was adamant Messi will not need surgery.
“He doesn’t need surgery or anything like that. It’s just a matter of how much time the player needs to rest in order to play the next game,” Martino said.