Achi news desk-
Is Lionel Messi playing this weekend?
That’s the question Inter Miami (3-2-2, 11 points) will need to address as long as the global star sits out with a hamstring strain.
Miami fans hope Messi will be back on the field Saturday when the Colorado Rapids (2-2-2, eight points) visit Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Messi has not played since March 13, when he saw 50 minutes of action in Inter Miami’s Champions Cup match against Nashville SC before leaving with a leg injury.
It was considered a matchday decision on Wednesday when Inter Miami hosted Mexican powerhouse Monterrey in the Champions Cup. But Messi did not wear, and Monterrey stunned Miami 2-1 by scoring the winning goal in the 89th minute.
“We had said that Leo would be day-to-day, and he wasn’t ready to play today, it would have been too much of a risk,” Miami coach Tata Martino told reporters.
“He feels better every day, and we will re-evaluate for the Colorado game and the return leg against Monterrey next week.”
Messi scored three goals in three games to start the 2024 MLS regular season. Teammate Luis Suarez has scored five goals, including Miami’s only goal in a 1-1 draw with New York City FC last week.
This will mark the Rapids’ first game against Miami since the latter entered the league in 2020. Colorado coach Chris Armas will need to prepare his players for every contingency.
“Not sure exactly how they fit together. We know they did different things,” Armas said. “Three at the back, four at the back, with Messi, without Messi, but in any case they are a very good team and an even better team at home.”
The Rapids are doing better than they did a year ago, when they finished dead last in the Western Conference.
They had a thrilling 3-2 win over Los Angeles FC last week as new signing Djordje Mihailovic scored his first two goals for Colorado in the 83rd and 89th minutes to lead the comeback.
Speed ​​forward Jonathan Lewis (knee) and midfielder Jasper Loffelsend (hamstring) are expected to miss Saturday’s game, Armas said. Midfielder Connor Ronan (knee) will miss at least another month.
