Lionel Messi could be set to miss Inter Miami’s match against rival Orlando City after picking up a knock over the weekend, assistant coach Javier Morales said.
Messi was on the receiving end of a rough challenge from CF Montréal defender George Campbell on Saturday. The Argentine star received treatment on his knee before eventually returning to a match Miami won 3-2.
As he waited to re-enter the match, Messi decried the new MLS rule that requires players who stay down injured for longer than 15 seconds to leave the field for at least two minutes.
Though Messi was able to finish the match, Morales revealed on Tuesday that the 36-year-old is experiencing some lingering effects that could sideline him for Wednesday’s game in Orlando.
“We are going to check Messi today, see how he feels today during the training session and then make a decision,” Morales said. “Yesterday, he did the bike and jogged a little bit and felt his knee a little bit but we’ll see how he is today.
“He suffered a hit to the knee on Saturday vs. Montréal, he continued playing through the end of the game and then iced it when finished. He trained with the players yesterday who did regenerative work, with the bicycle and a bit of jogging on the field.
“Now, like the rest of the players, we will evaluate them to see how they feel and who is ready.”
Messi has been near-unstoppable in MLS play this season, tallying 10 goals and 12 assists in just nine total games. The match at Montréal was the first time in 2024 that Messi didn’t have a goal contribution in a game.
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