In the dramatic 1-1 draw against New York City FC, Messi was notably absent from the field, dressed in street clothes. The match saw a last-minute equalizer by Inter Miami, almost clinching a vital victory with a late strike that hit the crossbar.
Despite the thrilling end to the storm-delayed game at DRV PNK Stadium, Messi’s absence became a pivotal discussion point post-match.
The Inter Miami Podcast (unofficially associated with the team) claimed that Messi had suffered a 2 cm hamstring tear as confirmed by an MRI, implying his potential absence from the rest of the MLS season.
Gerardo “Tata” Martino, Inter Miami’s head coach, refuted these claims post-match.
Martino stated that only time would reveal the truth about Messi’s condition, dismissing the injury report. He indicated that Messi’s participation would be evaluated on a game-by-game basis, adding that Messi is currently training separately but improving.
Martino had previously stated that Messi would be back before the end of the season. Messi has been spotted at recent training sessions, although his full abilities still remain uncertain.
Messi’s Return Could Boost Miami’s Playoff Hopes
The single point from the recent draw isn’t quite what Messi’s team needed given the limited time left in the regular season.
Nonetheless, thanks to a tumultuous Eastern Conference playoff race, Miami ended the night slightly closer to the top nine. Among the seven teams competing for the last two spots, only Chicago Fire registered a win on Saturday, with three other teams facing defeat.
The downside? The Herons lag four points behind ninth-place CF Montréal, with only four matches remaining and no margin for mistakes.
The upside? Miami has an advantage of an extra game over Montréal and Chicago, and two over D.C., implying even minor errors from these teams could provide Miami an opportunity.
Martino expressed his admiration for his team’s performance under pressure. He praised their efforts and expressed high hopes, despite a relentless series of close matches and a demanding schedule.
Inter Miami’s tie with NYCFC marked their fifth game in two weeks, a count set to increase by two in the next six days. The Herons are slated to compete against Chicago Fire on Wednesday, followed by a home match against Cincinnati on Saturday.