The Inter Miami camp and their fans might now be saying, ‘If only we had Lionel Messi.’ Miami has just now lost at home to a Monterrey side that came from behind. Had Messi been there, the outcome could have been different. Notably, this is the 4th straight game that the Miami captain has missed. What’s going on? Well, Inter Miami’s head coach Tata Martino has an answer.

“Messi was not fit enough for this match. We will go game after game to see how he feels. We didn’t want to risk him today,” said Tata Martino in a post-game presser. Lionel Messi injured his hamstring on March 12 in a CONCACAF Champions Cup tie against Nashville SC. He has missed four MLS games with Inter Miami. Meanwhile, the latest clash he missed was a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal tie.

Tata Martino had earlier stated that Messi’s feature in the Monterrey game would be a game-time decision. He hinted at La Pulga missing the game because the Miami entourage did not want to take any risks. Meanwhile, Messi has notably trained with his teammates at the club’s facility prior to their latest clash. Anyhow, Martino is hellbent on not risking Messi because he insists this is only April and the Herons have a lot more in the ongoing season to withstand. That is true, but Inter Miami’s performances without Messi are woeful. On the other hand, the club has a busy calendar for April that would demand Lionel Messi be in peak physical shape.

Injured Lionel Messi looks at a crammed schedule in April

In three days, Inter Miami returns to the pitch against Sporting Kansas City to resume MLS action. The club has not won the last two of their MLS games,and in both games Lionel Messi was a no show. Only time will tell if Martino will again sideline La Pulga thinking this is just April. Miami has already dropped to the second position in the Eastern Conference table, thanks to recent sloppy displays. Thereafter, the Herons meet Monterrey on the road in the second leg of the Champions Cup quarterfinal.

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If the 8x Ballon d’Or winner’s absence forces them to blow that game, Martino and Co. will have some serious questions to answer. Overall, Miami plays five more games in the MLS in the remaining weeks of April. It is paramount that Messi returns to the team for those games. As per the most recent update, the 2022 World Champion is expected to feature off the bench against Sporting KC. When do you see Messi starting for the Herons? Tell us in the comments.

READ MORE: Lionel Messi Under Scrutiny for Sacrificing Inter Miami Games for Copa America Prep After Missing 4 Consecutive Matches