In the world of soccer, few names resonate as loudly as Lionel Messi. The Argentinian forward, known for his unparalleled skills and game-changing abilities, is currently the talk of the town, but not for the usual reasons. As Inter Miami prepares for the U.S. Open Cup final, the burning question on everyone's mind is: Will Messi play?
Gerardo Martino, the boss of Inter Miami, finds himself in a quandary. Messi, who has been grappling with a muscle injury, missed recent games for both his club and the Argentinian national team. The stakes are high for Inter Miami, as they are on the cusp of clinching their second piece of silverware. However, the decision to play Messi is not straightforward.
"It's very difficult to give him a percentage because we have to take it day by day. We'll continue to evaluate him and, as I always say, I will listen to him first and see how he's feeling. Then we'll also need to evaluate future risks. It's not an easy decision, but we're going to take the right amount of time to try to not make a mistake," Martino expressed in a recent interview.
The 36-year-old soccer maestro was notably absent during Inter Miami's 1-1 draw against Orlando City in their Major League Soccer (MLS) match on Sunday. His absence was felt even more acutely when the team faced a crushing 5-2 defeat against Atlanta. Messi's injury woes began during the international break when he represented Argentina in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Since that knock, Messi has been on the field for a mere 37 minutes in an MLS match against Toronto FC before being sidelined.
The upcoming weeks are crucial for Inter Miami. Following the U.S. Open Cup final, they face a pivotal match against New York City FC. Currently, New York City FC holds the last playoff spot in the MLS Eastern Conference. Martino and his team are determined to bridge the five-point gap to secure a postseason position.
The U.S. Open Cup final, scheduled for Wednesday at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, will see Inter Miami host Houston Dynamo. If Messi is fit, he will undoubtedly be the linchpin for Inter Miami. Since joining the U.S. league, Messi has been in stellar form, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in just 12 games.
Houston Dynamo, however, remains unfazed. When asked about strategies to counter Messi, Dynamo's head coach Ben Olsen played his cards close to his chest, stating, "If I had the right plan to stop him [Messi], I wouldn't give it to you. I don't want to get into that too much."
