Inter Miami assistant coach Javier Morales has announced that star player Lionel Messi will be missing the upcoming match against New York City FC due to a right hamstring injury. However, Morales expressed optimism that Messi will be able to return for the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal match against Liga MX club Monterrey on Wednesday. Morales stated, “Leo is working with the physios. He is ruled out for tomorrow, he will not be available because we will be trying to do our best so that he can play at home next Wednesday against Monterrey.”
Impact of Messi’s Absence
Messi has not featured for Inter Miami since March 13 and also did not take part in Argentina’s friendlies against Costa Rica and El Salvador. The absence of Messi has been noticeable, with Miami losing two out of three matches without him, including a disappointing 4-0 defeat to New York Red Bulls. Prior to his injury, Miami was undefeated in the five games Messi played, showcasing his influence on the team’s performance.
The match against New York City FC on Saturday will mark the first meeting between Miami and NYCFC this season. NYCFC is looking to end a three-game losing streak on the road, while Miami boasts a 2-2-0 record against Eastern Conference opponents. Luis Suárez leads the team in Eastern Conference scoring with four goals, contributing to Miami’s conference-leading total of 12 goals.
In preparation for the upcoming matches, Inter Miami recently signed defender Marcelo Weigandt on loan from Boca Juniors to strengthen their squad for the remainder of the MLS season. This signing comes after United States men’s national team right back DeAndre Yedlin was traded to FC Cincinnati earlier in the month. Additionally, the team signed Argentina under-23 midfielder Federico Redondo last month, but he will be sidelined for eight weeks due to a left lateral collateral ligament injury sustained while on international duty.
Morales explained, “We sent Federico along to the national team because he was fine. He told us he felt a pain while he was over there, and we evaluated him when he returned.” The absence of key players like Messi and Redondo poses a challenge for Inter Miami, but the team remains focused on securing positive results in the upcoming matches.
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