During Inter Miami’s thrilling 1-1 draw with New York City FC, which included a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer and a near-victory for Miami, Messi was notably absent from the field. However, the focus remained on him after the match.
According to a report from the unofficial Inter Miami Podcast, Messi had supposedly suffered a “2-centimeter hamstring tear, as confirmed by an MRI,” raising concerns that he might be sidelined for the remainder of the MLS season.
In response to this report, Inter Miami’s head coach, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, disputed its accuracy during his post-match press conference. Martino stated, “Time will reveal whether my statement is accurate or if the individual who made the report is correct. We will assess his condition game by game.”
Martino elaborated, explaining that Messi is actively training but separately from the team, and his condition is improving. The coach had previously indicated that Messi would make a return before the end of the MLS season.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Messi’s injury, Inter Miami continues to hold out hope for his return. With the regular season’s clock ticking down, the single point earned in the match was not an ideal outcome for Messi’s team. However, considering the unpredictable nature of the Eastern Conference playoff race, Miami actually moved one point closer to the top nine teams in the standings that qualify for the postseason. Among the seven teams vying for the final two playoff spots, only the Chicago Fire secured a victory on Saturday, with three others facing defeats.
On the downside, Inter Miami currently trails ninth-place CF Montréal by four points, and Montréal holds an advantage based on the number of games won, with D.C. United and the Chicago Fire trailing behind. With only four games left in the season, Inter Miami can ill afford any missteps.
The upside is that Miami has a game in hand on Montréal and Chicago, and two on D.C., offering a glimmer of hope. For Inter Miami to secure a playoff spot, it may require a few stumbles from teams that have struggled to maintain consistent form.
Martino emphasized the significance of the games ahead, acknowledging their mental and physical demands. He commended his team’s efforts in their journey from last place three months ago to their current position and expressed high hopes for their future performance.
Inter Miami has been engaged in numerous tightly contested matches, even with the demanding schedule. Their draw with NYCFC marked their fifth game in two weeks, a number that will rise to seven in the next six days. Inter Miami faces an upcoming away match against the Chicago Fire followed by a home clash with Cincinnati on Saturday.
