Lionel Messi didn’t feature in Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw against New York City FC as the Argentine was not included in the squad for the encounter at the Chase Stadium on Saturday.
In Messi’s absence, Luis Suarez rose to the occasion and netted a 15th-minute header to put his side ahead of the visitors but Alonso Martinez equalled the scores in the 34th minute.
Talking after the match, Miami boss Tata Martino revealed that the goal for Messi is to remain fit for Wednesday’s encounter against LIGA MX club Monterrey in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals.
“We’ll see, they’re going day by day. Depending on what happens the next four days, we’ll see if they’re available or not,” Martino said of Messi and defender Nico Freire, who is also dealing with a hamstring injury.
“The game on Wednesday is against an important team but we also have to think about the whole year. I don’t anticipate to say they’re out of the game, but we’ll look at it Sunday and Monday, and Tuesday we’ll decide it.”
Suarez has now scored five goals in the Major League Soccer (MLS) so far and seven overall across competitions. The 37-year-old is reaching the end days of his career but he is still delivering for his side and Martino couldn't be more happy for the Uruguayan.
“Luis was a great competitor up until the very end. He had a great game,” Martino said, expressing happiness with the opportunities Suarez tried to score — eight shots overall, with five on target.
Remember, Messi also missed matches for Argentina in the recent international break as his injury has led to him missing crucial matches for Miami, namely clashes against NY Red Bulls and DC United.
Messi’s presence and his influence on the team remain unparalleled, one of the reasons why Martino is eager to have his star player back so Miami could continue their journey of winning their second cup since the 36-year-old’s arrival in the United States.