Here’s how Inter Miami is currently dealing with Lionel Messi’s injury: The team often says he might play, but then he doesn’t.
That pattern continued on Saturday, when the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was withdrawn from a game against New York City FC, which had huge Major League Soccer playoff implications for both clubs. Inter Miami has not divulged the seriousness of Messi’s leg injury.
Approximately 45 minutes before Saturday’s game, the team announced that Messi will not play. Without Messi, Miami still had some magic — Tomás Avilés scored a header in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw. In the 77th minute, Santiago Rodriguez scored for NYCFC, giving them the lead.
The 36-year-old Messi has already missed four of Inter Miami’s previous five games, as well as another for Argentina, due to what was initially described as weariness — by both his club and his country — and has progressed since then. The only game he didn’t miss during that run was a 37-minute appearance against Toronto on September 20, which he had to leave before halfway due to a hamstring injury.
Inter Miami still has playoff hopes, but it suffered a setback Saturday, and the team is no longer in control of its postseason destiny, whether Messi returns or not. It is four points behind Montreal for the Eastern Conference’s tenth and last playoff position; Inter Miami has four matches remaining, while Montreal has three. With the stalemate, NYCFC moved up to eighth place in the East, one position higher.
And Messi’s availability for the rest of the season remains unknown, despite some fans paying hundreds of dollars — or more — to watch him play. Martino stated that Messi will be on the training pitch in the following days, with additional evaluations scheduled for Tuesday. The team’s next game is Wednesday at Soldier Field in Chicago, against the Chicago Fire.
Many fans on social media have expressed outrage at the team’s lack of clarity regarding Messi’s status. A post previewing the NYCFC game, released around midday Saturday, attracted comments such as “Post the team and don’t trick your own fans.” Have some shame. “Can you be explicit about what’s going on with Messi?”
Messi’s status hasn’t been the only topic of discussion around the team in recent days. Inter Miami sent out season-ticket renewal notices this week, with significant price increases in all sections for the upcoming season. Season costs in the section where Inter Miami’s most fervent supporters stand, chant, and wave banners for the entirety of matches are slated to increase 82% (from $485 to $884). In 2024, pricing for some seats near midfield will reach 98%.
Some areas were priced more (from $1,333 to $2,635) than the announced price for this year, and other fans were informed to expect a more than 100% rise over what they had been paying. The announced price for the most costly season tickets next season exceeds $40,000, and that doesn’t include the suites.
Prices were undoubtedly expected to rise; Messi’s two-and-a-half-year contract will pay him an average of more than $50 million per year, and that doesn’t even include what Inter Miami spent to sign its other two major midseason acquisitions this year, Jordi Alba (who is also sidelined by injury) and Sergio Busquets.
