Following the stalemate against Orlando, Inter Miami found its way back to winning ways against DC United. A narrow victory kept the Herons unbeaten with Lionel Messi also offering a relief with his return. But soon, the Argentinian superstar might not be available at Miami’s disposal for a while as the skipper would turn his focus towards Copa America. While Messi’s absence will leave a void, Tata Martino has identified Leonardo Campana and Robert Taylor as two ‘fundamental‘ players to fill in for the legendary skipper.

During the post-match press conference, the former River Plate manager was asked about his strategy to maintain the team’s momentum in Messi’s absence. Interestingly, as per @Intermiamicfhub on X, Martino said, “We are going to suffer during the Copa América, but we have to know how to suffer, Leo Campana’s goal will give him confidence. Players like him, and Robert Taylor will be fundamental in this period.” 

This claim suggests that Martino has faith in the 23-year-old Ecuadorian forward as well as the 29-year-old Finnish midfielder. Perhaps this confidence stems from their recent performances. While Campana scored the winning goal in yesterday’s match, Taylor shares the same tally of three goals and an assist with Campana. Certainly, both players would be looking to lead Miami in Messi’s absence. 

Notably, La Pulga isn’t alone as his partner-in-crime, Luis Suarez will also join his national side Uruguay to compete in the same tournament. Either way, Miami shall brace itself over the absence of its star players. Speaking of which, how many games are Messi and Suarez expected to miss out on? 

Which games will Lionel Messi remain absent for Inter Miami? 

The time nears for Lionel Messi’s lengthy domestic absence, as these next few weeks are the only chance fans will get to witness him play for Inter Miami. The 36-year-old will take on the Copa America stage from June 20 to July 20. Prior to this CONMEBOL-based tournament, Argentina is scheduled to play international friendlies against Ecuador on June 10 and Guatemala on June 14. Meanwhile, Luis Suarez may leave the Fort Lauderdale camp quite early, as Uruguay will warm up their legs with matches against Costa Rica on June 1 and Mexico on June 6.

Hence, the upcoming domestic games against Vancouver, Atlanta United, and St. Louis will mark Messi and Suarez’s final appearances before their international duties. After that, they will miss matches against Philadelphia, Columbus, Nashville, Charlotte, and Cincinnati between June 16 and July 7.

However, both Messi and Suarez’s return dates will depend on their respective nation’s duration in the tournament. Regardless, it’s still a lengthy absence that Inter Miami will have to bear. Let’s see if the likes of Leonardo Campana and Robert Taylor can fill in for Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, fulfilling Tata Martino’s wish.