FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have five matches remaining to make a push for the MLS postseason.
But all eyes remain on Messi’s availability and whether the World Cup champion and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will return to action.
Messi will not play in tonight’s match against New York City FC at DRV PNK Stadium.
Messi was not on Inter Miami’s team bus when it arrived to the stadium, nor listed on the club’s roster for the match.
So, Messi will miss his third straight game.
Messi is considered day to day with fatigue and a lingering injury that has been undisclosed for much of the month of September, causing him to miss four of his last five matches.
Inter Miami and NYCFC players came back onto the pitch at 8:10 p.m., despite a steady rain still falling, to warm up after their weather delay.
Play could begin at 8:32 p.m., Inter Miami announced on social media.
Fans have also begun to re-enter the stands again.
While players from both sides were on the pitch for pregame warmups, a weather delay was instituted that has interrupted the start of tonight's match.
Thunder and lightning, which wasn't present during warmups, appeared shortly before the 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
With news of Leo Messi out, the rain is just more bad news for Inter Miami on Saturday night.
The Inter Miami-New York City FC match at 7:30 p.m. ET is available to stream on Apple TV.
Messi wanted to play in Inter Miami’s 2-1 loss to Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup final last Wednesday.
But the club ultimately decided against Messi playing to preserve his health.
“We are taking it day-by-day,” Inter Miami assistant coach Javier Morales told reporters on Friday, according to the Miami Herald.
“We were trying up until the last moment to see if he could play some minutes in the (U.S. Open Cup) final but he couldn’t do it. At this point, it’s communication with the medical staff and, most important, with him to see how he’s feeling. He is going to train (Friday) and test it out and we will see if he’s available for Saturday, which is what we all want.”
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“Muscle injuries are tricky because you can think you’re fine, and then you play a game or go through training and you end up worse,” Morales said.
“We knew it was a final, Leo wanted to play, we all wanted that, but he didn’t feel 100 percent. You don’t want to make an injury worse, and instead of missing one game have to miss a month. The idea is to have him healthy as long as possible.”
Messi did come out to the pitch for Inter Miami’s practice Friday toward the end of the portion of training available to the media.
Jordi Alba, a former Barcelona FC standout like Messi, has also been sidelined due to injury.
Although previously undisclosed, Morales said Alba is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Alba will not play for Inter Miami against New York City FC.
“Jordi’s is a different situation, it’s a little longer than Leo,” Morales said. “It’s a hamstring injury. He’ll definitely be out for this weekend.”
Inter Miami is 14th of 15 teams, trailing NYCFC for the ninth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference by five points with two games in hand.
Miami has 32 points, while NYCFC has 37.
The rest of Inter Miami’s matches and the rest of MLS are available to watch via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
