Will Messi play in Orlando? Here’s the latest on Inter Miami star’s left leg injury
Lionel Messi’s status remains up in the air for Wednesday night’s match between Inter Miami and Orlando City.
He participated in a recovery workout for the second consecutive day, along with a majority of Inter Miami’s starters on Tuesday. He was not seen during a portion of practice open to reporters.
Messi appeared to hyperextend his legendary left leg during Inter Miami’s 3-2 win over CF Montreal last Saturday, just before the first half. He finished the game, but missed two free kicks and at least one attempt on goal.
“He had a blow to his knee on Saturday. He was able to continue playing. In fact, he finished the game, he put some ice on it. (On Monday) he trained with the guys who did some regenerative training. He (rode on a stationary) bike, a little bit of jogging on the field,” Inter Miami coach Javi Morales said on Tuesday. “Let's see, we will try to evaluate everything, to see how they feel and who is ready.”
Inter Miami will likely determine Messi’s status later Tuesday, before flying up to Orlando Wednesday for the 7:30 p.m. match.
Inter Miami has five games remaining before Messi, 36, departs to captain Argentina during this summer’s Copa America 2024. It could be Messi’s last major tournament for his country after declaring the 2022 World Cup would be his last.
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Messi is second in MLS with 10 goals scored and first with 12 assists for Inter Miami, which tops the Eastern Conference with 27 points.
If Messi is unable to play or limited against Orlando, his status could also be in the air for Saturday’s home match against D.C. United.
Just before halftime in the Montreal game, Messi spent several minutes laying on the pitch after being tackled by Montreal’s George Campbell.
Messi extended his left leg to control a pass toward him, but Campbell’s momentum carried him right into the World Cup champion. Campbell did not receive a yellow card for the sequence.
Messi walked to the sideline after being evaluated by trainers, and was visibly upset about the two-minute wait he had to endure to re-enter the game at the next stoppage point, a new MLS rule implanted this season.
Messi finished the first half, and played the entire match against Montreal. It was his first match without a goal or assist, breaking an eight-game streak with multiple goal contributions to start the 2024 MLS season.
Messi’s eight-game streak with multiple goal contributions ranks second in MLS history, only behind LA Galaxy standout Cobi Jones, who did it in the first nine games in 1998.
Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule
The Orlando match comes in a stretch of Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday games for Inter Miami. The next five games are likely to be Messi’s last before joining Argentina for Copa America this summer.
∎May 15: Inter Miami at Orlando City, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎May 18: Inter Miami vs. DC United, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎May 25: Inter Miami at Vancouver, 10:30 p.m. ET
∎May 29: Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎June 1: Inter Miami vs. St. Louis City, 7:30 p.m. ET