The responsibility of being the king comes with the willingness to walk on a thorny path. The use of soccer turfs with artificial grass has a reputation for being injury-prone. This was an immediate concern for MLS after Lionel Messi’s arrival, as America’s sport is about to go global. Even though most of the teams do not use them, few teams that do, refused to make any changes. After leaving no option for Messi but to play on it, one team has beseeched the fans not to wear Inter Miami’s jersey.

Messi’s move to the MLS has prompted the league to reconsider its use of artificial turf, with some advocating for a switch to natural grass. But apart from such demands, teams are also facing other problems from Inter Miami and it’s not their fault either. The mission for the teams has now come down to stopping the Messi juggernaut.

A gentle reminder to the fans

MLS may have started in the 90s, but for everyone, it looks like a newly launched league. Even the Americans can feel the metamorphosis with all the attention it has been getting from the world. One team that will play the 14th-ranked side in the league match this Saturday has requested the fans to stop the Lionel Messi mania. $850,000,000 worth Atlanta United, in one of its recent social media posts, asked the fans to come only in a 5 striped kit.

Atlanta’s current jersey is red and black stripes with golden script in the middle. As a result, they are asking the fans to wear their kit in unity for the match against Inter Miami on Saturday.

Despite the rivalry, fans of other teams have often shown their support for the Argentine captain. Starting on the bench initially, Messi erupted the crowd in his first MLS game at the Red Bull Arena.

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The crowd went berserk by shouting ‘We want Messi’ every ten minutes. Even Times Square was packed with fans cheering for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Atlanta United reluctant to change turf for Lionel Messi

Even though it may seem long-lasting, artificial grass turf has created a notion that it may cause more injuries and fatigue. Some turfs may have FIFA approval, but athletes have concerns about playing on them. Declining to make adjustments to accommodate natural grass, the CEO of Atlanta United backed his ground. He emphasized that the turf was certified by FIFA and that Tata Martino would know that it was safe.

Despite choosing not to play in the second World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, Messi still opted to travel with the team. Citing fatigue in the latter duration of the 1st qualifier game, Messi showed more circumspection about his health.

Considering the team’s position on the table, would Lionel take a risk of playing? Atlanta United is doing all it can to deprive the World Cup winner of the comfort he has been receiving. Whether they could stop him on Saturday evening is the question.

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