“Disservice To Inter Miami”- With Lionel Messi Set To Miss 7 Games, MLS Slammed For ‘Ridiculously Dumb’ Schedule

Inter Miami team will be a treat to watch in the next MLS season, as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez pair up once again. Having exited the MLS season this time without seeing the playoffs, Messi surely got a shot at redemption with Miami. However, it is not all good news for the Argentine and his fans. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is already set to miss seven matches due to a collision between the MLS regular season and his duty with Argentina’s national team. Recently, ex-USMNT player Herculez Gomez further exposed this unbalanced MLS schedule that mars Messi and Miami.

Soon-to-be 37, Messi is already looking at a crammed schedule for next season. The fixtures are likely to physically challenge the 2022 World Champion. Besides, soccer fans in America too are not going to see much of the Argentine’s action. Hence, Gomez couldn’t help but eviscerate the MLS schedule.

Veteran calls out MLS for doing Lionel Messi and Inter Miami wrong

MLS’ schedule for the upcoming season was a talking point in the latest ESPN FC’s ‘Futbol Americas’ podcast. Sebastian Salazar asked his co-host Herculez Gomez to share his thoughts on MLS’ schedule. “Can we just start off for a second and talk about Messi’s schedule? How ridiculously dumb is that? It’s a pre-season tour across Asia in the Middle East to roll into the MLS schedule,” said Gomez. ” Inter Miami is the favorite to win the league minus 400, yet they will only play six times against their Western conference foes. You’re doing a disservice to Inter Miami, you’re doing a disservice to everybody in their conference by not having a balanced schedule.”

Gomez called out the MLS for denying fans in certain markets to have a glimpse of one of the greatest players of this generation. He also had a problem with Inter Miami getting to play fewer matches than other teams and still competing for the same MLS regular season title. Furthermore, the MLS fixtures have already marred Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami run in 2024, by colliding with Argentina’s crucial matches.

National duty and a crammed schedule force Messi out of crucial Miami matches

Lionel Messi will miss seven Inter Miami matches altogether in March, June, and July. He will be absent in Miami’s fixtures against DC United and NY Red Bulls in March, due to an international friendly break. Meanwhile, in June and July, the 36-year-old will miss a total of five matches, owing to his participation in Argentina’s 2024 Copa America campaign.

READ MORE: Lionel Messi’s World Cup Victory Divided Brazil, Claims Paulo Silas

Inter Miami saw how costly Messi’s absence was during the last season. When injury woes sidelined Leo, Inter Miami saw their form plummet and eventually blow any chances to qualify for the MLS playoffs. Hence, giving Leo Messi fewer matches with Inter Miami is indeed a disservice to them and every fan who closely follows La Pulga.

WATCH THIS STORY: Cristiano Jr’s Insane Training Schedule