Martino provides Messi update ahead of Toronto FC match

The Argentine superstar could be set to miss a second straight game

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino has said that Lionel Messi will be evaluated after Tuesday’s training session to determine if he’s able to play on Wednesday against Toronto FC.

Messi missed out on Saturday as Miami fell 5-2 at Atlanta United, snapping a run of 12 unbeaten games since the 36-year-old arrived in July.

Martino said that Messi and Jordi Alba both missed the match due to “muscular fatigue,” after Messi had also missed Argentina’s game against Bolivia over the international window. The head coach had previously insisted that Messi was not injured.

The defeat in Atlanta was damaging to Miami’s already shaky playoff hopes, with victory at home against TFC — the only team below Miami in the Eastern Conference standings — a must for the club to maintain a shot at the postseason.

But in a statement shared with the media, Martino couldn’t provide any assurances that Messi and Alba would be ready to face TFC at DRV PNK Stadium on Wednesday.

“Every player on our roster wants to play every match. That is the mentality of our group,” Martino said. “We have a lot of important matches in a short window of time, and one of my responsibilities as the coach is to care for my players and help them make the hard decisions that will give us the best chance of keeping everyone healthy during this busy run.

“Beginning on Wednesday, we have six matches in 18 days, which is one match every three days, including the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final. Regarding Messi and Alba, both players will train in the full session today with the team and after that we’ll see if they’re available to play and to what extent.”

Martino has previously hinted that his club will prioritize the Open Cup final on September 27 against Houston, as Inter Miami looks to win a second trophy since Messi’s arrival after its Leagues Cup triumph last month.

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