Sidelined vs Vancouver, Is Lionel Messi Playing Tonight vs Atlanta United?

Lionel Messi’s presence, mainly for Inter Miami, has been quite uncertain over the last few months. There’s not much margin for error currently for David Beckham’s club, which is leading the Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference by just a single point. A result here and there can displace their position and also disrupt their momentum. As they take on a formidable Atlanta United tonight, the availability of their captain becomes significant. But the number of snubs by Messi recently brings us back to the same question. Is the Argentine playing tonight’s match?

In a restless situation, the news appears energetic for the fans. Lionel Messi is expected to play in the upcoming game versus the 2018 champions. While the club initially hoped to feature him regularly, they’re now cautious about overloading him with additional burden. Inter Miami opted to rest Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets for their match against Vancouver. The decision was made considering the long travel distance of 2,800 miles, and the time commitment of a 7-hour journey.

Meanwhile, the game against Atlanta will be played at the Chase Stadium and there isn’t any reason for the skipper to miss the game. Speaking yesterday, manager Tata Martino stated, “Yes, Messi will be in the game tomorrow.” But subsequently, he gave a heads-up for the next game saying, “Then we will see how he feels for Saturday. The idea is that he be present for both games, but first, we have to play tomorrow’s game to think about Saturday.,” taking it step by step.

However, things haven’t been like before for Leo. The 36-year-old suffered repeated injuries after arriving in Miami, including the scar tissue problem in late 2023 followed by a hamstring injury earlier this season. But the club will have to endure his irregularities this season as it will be its biggest chance to snatch an MLS title.

Fans given an additional warning ahead of Lionel Messi’s upcoming international break

Inter Miami will face testing times in the next couple of months. With Copa America about to start, Lionel Messi is expected to miss five games during that period. But more surprisingly, Martino hinted at the possibility of Suarez missing out too, as he anticipates a call-up from the Uruguayan national team.

Despite suffering from osteoarthritis, the striker scored 18 goals for the Herons this season, while assisting seven times. And the club would have banked on him to fill Messi’s boots to an extent.

Nevertheless, a few youngsters seem to have stepped up in the last few games. Leonardo Campana scored in consecutive games to take Inter Miami over the line. In addition, Robert Taylor is also back to scoring ways after a couple of months, boosting the club’s confidence. But can Inter Miami cope without their two stars and continue their form during the continental trophy? Let us know in the comments.