Inter Miami's ability to compete for a ticket to the playoffs in the US Major League Soccer will be seriously affected by the absence of Lionel Messi in the near future.
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| Lionel Messi (No. 10) scores for Inter Miami. (Source: USA Today Sports) |
Inter Miami temporarily escaped the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings in Major League Soccer (MLS) after a 2-0 win over New York RB. The club's chance of reaching the MLS championship playoffs suddenly opened up when they are 11 points behind ninth-placed Chicago Fire but have played two games less.
With the arrival of Lionel Messi, Inter Miami can believe in a miraculous comeback this season. Since the arrival of El Pulga, the club has been unbeaten in all 9 matches.
Thanks to that, Beckham's team won the Leagues Cup and reached the final of the American National Cup.
However, Inter Miami's ambitions will be severely affected as they will be without Messi for at least three matches as he returns to the Argentina national team for FIFA Days.
MLS continues to play and does not take a break during the international break.
Speaking to the press, coach Tata Martino confirmed the bad news: "I am sure that everyone appreciates the importance of the victory against New York RB but we need to adapt to the reality that Messi has to return to the Argentina national team.
He will miss at least three games this year. Next year, the situation will not change. Therefore, we understand that, even if El Pulga is not here, the whole team still has to find a way to win."
Messi will join Argentina in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia on September 7 and 12. In October, La Albiceleste will face Paraguay and Peru on October 12 and 17.
It is worth mentioning that the first phase of the MLS will end on October 22. Therefore, the matches in September and October will directly decide the fate of Inter Miami. Without Messi, they are at risk of collapsing their MLS championship ambitions.
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