Excluded From Argentina’s Squad, Is Lionel Messi Playing Tonight For Inter Miami Vs New York Red Bulls?

Soccer fans in the United States are in for a showcase this Saturday. Defending world champion Argentina will be in action for the first time on US soil after their World Cup triumph in 2022. Lionel Scaloni‘s men will take on El Salvador in their first international friendly as part of the tour. While this is a big occasion for the fans, there has been a wave of disappointment considering Albiceleste skipper Lionel Messi will be unavailable for the two games after picking up an injury against Nashville earlier this season.

The setback has opened the door for Inter Miami fans, who will now expect the player to be available for the high-voltage clash against the New York Red Bulls. Lionel Messi was spotted training alongside his team during the team’s latest training session, giving rise to speculations over his availability. However, if you have Lionel Messi in action on your bingo book for this weekend, we’d suggest you take a rain check! While La Pulga has surely put the work into training, taking to the field so soon after an injury is a completely different ball game.

According to reports, Inter Miami could follow suit with Argentina and keep Lionel Messi on the bench this weekend. La Pulga’s physical status is a concern amongst both sets of support staff, and no team wants to put a strain on their marquee player. Inter Miami’s entire campaign came off the rails without their captain last season. The team seems in no mood to repeat the same mistake and will field the player only when he is 100% fit. Wouldn’t you do the same if your entire campaign was ardently reliant on one player?

Why can Inter Miami’s reliance on Lionel Messi cost the team big time?

While there are many means to justify the question above, you simply need to look at the results from last season. Lionel Messi signed with Inter Miami in August 2023 and led the team to their first-ever silverware in just a matter of months. Talk about an instant impact. However, the team looked like a completely different side in their captain’s absence as they went on a double-figure losing streak, washing their hands of a chance of qualifying for the MLS Playoffs.

Read more: Spotted in Inter Miami Training, Is Lionel Messi Playing Tonight For Argentina vs. El Salvador?

The ongoing season has brought a fresh change to the team following Luis Suarez’s arrival. The veteran striker has done a sublime job of adapting to the team. However, what we need to understand is that El Pistolero isn’t the same goal-scoring Ferrari from his Barcelona days, but rather a modest Ford Mustang in the final years of his career. The player has been out of breath at times and cannot keep carrying the team like he did against DC United day in and day out.

So what can Inter Miami do to keep their winning run alive? Well, for once, the team needs to stop relying on their star players and build a unit that plays on their strengths. After all, soccer isn’t an individual exhibition show; yeah, the performances of an individual can surely influence the game, but to win games, you need all your players at the top of their game.

READ MORE: “Son of a B***h Lionel Messi Won the World Cup” – Kylian Mbappe’s PSG Locker Room Banter Revealed By Ex-Teammate