Lionel Messi, the captain of Inter Miami, is grappling with the most extended break of his illustrious career, reported by GOAL. As Inter Miami strives to secure a spot in the MLS playoffs, they face a daunting task of closing a five-point gap in the remaining five fixtures. While the team celebrated their Leagues Cup triumph, they suffered a setback in the U.S. Open Cup final. Messi, their linchpin, has been sidelined, making only a brief 37-minute appearance in the last five games.
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Inter Miami's playoff hopes hang in the balance, and they are banking on Messi's return to full fitness to bolster their chances of clinching a historic MLS Cup triumph. If the team falls short in this quest, their 2023 campaign will culminate on October 21. Following this, Messi might face a prolonged hiatus, potentially sitting out until late February 2024 when the next MLS season commences.
While there's a possibility of Messi representing Argentina in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil in November, he could endure a 95-day hiatus from the last fixture until February 24, a tentative start date for the 2024 MLS season as per Forbes. If he doesn't participate in both these qualifiers, it could mark a record rest period for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Lionel Messi's only comparable hiatus occurred during the initial days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when he endured 99 match-less days with Barcelona. Inter Miami is fervently working towards securing a playoff berth, aiming to avoid creating unwanted history for their superstar signing by ensuring a strong finish in the regular season. The team and its fans eagerly await Messi's return to the pitch, hoping it will propel them towards MLS glory.