Update on Lionel Messi from Argentina: Superstar misses yet another important Major League Soccer match for Inter Miami

Lionel Messi, a footballing superstar and the captain of Inter Miami, has lately received more media attention for his behavior off the field than for his play. Thursday’s meeting between Miami and the Chicago Fire was the fifth game in the previous six that Messi has missed for the Major League Soccer team. He did not play for Miami against the Chicago Fire. The 36-year-old Argentine attacker has been bothered by a scar tissue issue since the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying matches, and Miami’s injury report lists him as ‘questionable’. Messi trained alone from the team on Tuesday.

The Fire easily won the game 4-1 and set a franchise record by selling 61,000 tickets for the game at Soldier Field. As soon as it was made evident that Messi wouldn’t be playing, it was announced that season ticket holders may get a $250 credit for the next season to make up for his absence. Similar to that, fans were offered the option of a $50 credit if they choose not to attend only that one game.

Coach Frank Klopas of Chicago acknowledged the dissatisfaction of the crowd by saying, “Many people came here to watch Messi, and who doesn’t want to see him. However, they saw a strong showing from our squad tonight.

In 12 games with Miami, Messi has 11 goals. This has resulted in the squad winning eight of the twelve games, including two in the US Open Cup semifinal and seven as part of the franchise’s first-ever successful Leagues Cup campaign. Miami, on the other hand, has only won in one of the five games Messi has missed since joining the team.

Miami’s head coach, Gerardo Martino, downplayed the situation. Both the Argentine squad and Barcelona missed him. Naturally, we’ll miss the finest player in the world.

Martino did not provide a timeline for Messi’s comeback, however.

Xherdan Shaqiri and Maren Haile-Selassie each scored twice for The Fire on Thursday. Josef Martinez converted a penalty kick for Miami.

Miami presently has 33 points with three games remaining, and with four other teams to beat, they are five points behind Montreal for the last play-off spot.