Head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed the availability of both stars during a press conference ahead of the Round of 16 second leg. “Leo and Rodrigo are in perfect condition, as is everyone except Maxi [Falcon],” Mascherano stated, noting that the defender is the squad’s only injury concern.

Following a scoreless draw in the first leg, Inter Miami face a high-stakes scenario at Chase Stadium. Due to the away goals rule, Nashville hold a tiebreaker advantage; any scored draw (such as 1–1 or 2–2) would result in Messi and Inter Miami being eliminated from the competition.

Mascherano explains Messi and De Paul’s absences

The absence of the Argentine duo was palpable, as the squad lacked the offensive spark typically provided by Messi and the high-intensity presence De Paul brings to the midfield.

According to Mascherano, the decision to rest both players was a preventative measure due to their heavy workload. Both stars have endured a grueling schedule, featuring in nine matches over just a six-week span.

“Clearly, Rodrigo and Leo did not travel; it was a decision we made together with them,” Mascherano explained during a press conference. “We were coming off a lot of travel and games on synthetic turf. We preferred for them to avoid the trip and rest. It was nine games in a month and a half”.

The return of these two players provide a significant boost to Inter Miami’s production. Messi is the team’s leading scorer this season, with three goals in three MLS appearances this season. Meanwhile, De Paul is a dual-threat in the midfield who, has recorded one goal in three league matches while providing vital defensive cover.

“Yes, he’s fine. He’s training normally, and yes, he’s available to play. Today, due to various circumstances, we felt he shouldn’t go in,” Mascherano said during his postgame press conference when Bolavip asked him about Suarez’s status.

“But it’s not like he has any discomfort or anything like that. He’s already 100% recovered, and will surely get minutes in the upcoming games.”

Luis Suarez’s slow start to 2026 with Inter Miami

Suarez, 39, has barely seen the field in 2026. His lone appearance for Miami this year came in the MLS season opener, coming off the bench to replace Mateo Silvetti with only eight minutes remaining during the 3-0 loss to LAFC.

The former Barcelona star, who moved to South Florida in 2024 to reunite with Messi, missed the Herons’ trip to Orlando and the subsequent 4-2 victory over Orlando City but was on the bench during the 2-1 win over DC United prior to the Nashville trip.

Suarez is on a one-year contract with Inter Miami, where his role had already decreased in the final stretch of the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs. After playing just 14 minutes in the quarterfinals and only eight in the semis, Suarez watched the final on the bench.

Suarez could return to action with rotation in Miami

2026 sees Suarez sitting behind German Berterame, who joined the Herons as a Designated Player (DP) this offseason in a stellar signing from Liga MX side Monterrey CF.

Inter Miami return to action on Saturday, when they hit the road again to visit Charlotte FC in MLS play. With the team having little time to rest before it returns to Miami for the second leg against Nashville, perhaps Mascherano starts to rotate players and gives Suarez playing time.

“I’m just a privileged spectator,” Mascherano replied to Bolavip when asked about Messi breaking more records, as the Argentine star reached 898 career goals with his brace against Orlando City on Sunday.

“I just get to watch him closer than you on the sidelines. The numbers that you mention are incredible, he’s unbelievable,” Mascherano added on Messi, who also reached 70 career free-kick goals with an incredible set-piece screamer in Orlando.

Being just two goals shy of reaching 900 in his career, Messi remains hot on Cristiano Ronaldo’s heels as the Portuguese striker aims to reach the 1,000-goal mark before the Argentine ace does.

Mascherano, Messi looking for second Inter Miami win in 2026

Meanwhile, Messi and Mascherano will be looking for their second win in 2026 as Inter Miami aim to build on their Florida Derby win, which was also their first franchise victory in Orlando.

The defending MLS Cup champions, who bounced back after a 3-0 loss to LAFC in the season opener, will take on a DC United side that also has three points, having beaten the Philadelphia Union on Matchday 1 before losing to Austin last time out. The game will take place at 4:30 PM (ET), with Messi set to start on Saturday. The Herons will have little time to rest, as their Concacaf Champions Cup campaign starts Wednesday with a trip to Nashville.

This window has been the busiest in the franchise’s history. Between fresh faces and key re-signings, the club have announced ten arrivals so far. However, Inter Miami could still add more talent, with reports suggesting they are working to bring back Baltasar Rodriguez from Racing Club.

Mascherano himself confirmed that the front office are still scouring the market. “We are not done with the transfer window because this one is longer than the others, and we are always looking to add people who can contribute and improve what we have,” Mascherano told reporters before the team traveled to Ecuador for their final South American friendly against Barcelona SC.

For the 2026 campaign, Inter Miami have bolstered their ranks with German Berterame, Luis Barraza, David Ayala, Dayne St. Clair, Micael, Sergio Reguilón, Facundo Mura, and Daniel Pinter. Additionally, Tadeo Allende and Rocco Rios Novo have returned to Florida on permanent deals after their initial loan spells expired at the end of last season.

Mascherano about Inter Miami’s transfer market

Following their historic first MLS Cup triumph, Inter Miami faced significant departures as legends Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba officially retired from professional soccer. To fill those voids, the club have brought in David Ayala and Sergio Reguilon.

Mascherano expressed his satisfaction with how the franchise have navigated these high-profile exits. “I am pleased. It’s never easy in a system like MLS when you are the champions and important players leave. It is never easy to replace them,” the manager noted.

“The club have been agile and intelligent in the search for players and opportunities, such as Dayne St. Clair, who was a free agent, or Facu Mura. In other situations, these players would have cost us a lot of money and we wouldn’t have been able to bring them in. We found solutions,” Mascherano explained.

The MLS primary transfer window remains open until March 26, giving Inter Miami over a month to finalize the roster. Given Mascherano’s recent comments, it is highly likely the Herons are not done making moves just yet.

Beyond the result on the field, Mascherano delivered a message that resonated deeply with Argentina fans. The Inter Miami coach expressed optimism when asked about the possibility of Messi featuring in the next World Cup, reinforcing the belief that the captain’s international future remains very much alive.

During the match, Messi logged 76 minutes of action, and Mascherano, known as “El Jefecito,” did not hesitate when questioned by the media about whether he sees his former teammate playing at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. “Yes, why not?” Mascherano said bluntly.

Messi himself previously addressed the topic in a November 2025 interview with Sport, once again leaving the door open while outlining his personal conditions. “The World Cup and playing for the national team are special, especially after having won it. I don’t want to be a burden. I want to feel good physically and be sure that I can help and contribute to the group,” Messi stated at the time.

Mascherano supports Messi’s World Cup hopes

Mascherano made it clear that, while his response was hopeful, the process requires patience and collaboration between the player, the club and the national team. He emphasized that any decision will be built over time, with careful planning inside Inter Miami’s day-to-day structure.

When asked how he plans to manage preparation with the World Cup taking place during the 2026 club season, Mascherano highlighted communication as the foundation of his approach. “I like to stay close to the players and, above all, understand how they’re feeling. No one knows their body better than they do. We monitor everything and make suggestions, but in the end it has to be a two-way dialogue,” he explained.

The Inter Miami coach also shared his thoughts on Argentina’s outlook for the tournament. “Argentina will approach it in the best possible way because it has been competing at a very high level for a long time and has extraordinary players. As an Argentine, I hope our national team does really well,” Mascherano said, suggesting there are no major obstacles for Messi to be part of Lionel Scaloni’s squad.

What’s next for Inter Miami?

Inter Miami will next travel to Guayaquil, Ecuador, to face Barcelona SC at Banco Pichincha Stadium, where Messi is expected to log additional minutes as he continues building rhythm and fitness with an eye on what could be one final World Cup run.

During the post-match press conference, Mascherano addressed Messi’s missed penalty and its impact on the game, while also showing empathy and making it clear that one mistake did not define the team’s overall performance.

“I don’t think the penalty impacted the result,” Mascherano said. “We can’t be unfair and single out Messi for that. These are game situations. If anyone helps us win, it’s Leo. Beyond that unfortunate play, in the first 20 minutes we controlled the match.”

With the loss, Inter Miami dropped to eighth place in the Eastern Conference, leaving them outside the direct playoff spots. The team now has 46 points in 26 games, putting pressure on every remaining match. With so little margin for error, each upcoming fixture becomes crucial for its postseason hopes.

Key moments that defined the match

Charlotte FC immediately capitalized on Messi’s missed penalty, saved by Croatian goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina at the 32nd minute. Seconds later, Idan Toklomati opened the scoring, beginning his hat trick.

Thanks to Toklomati’s efficiency, Charlotte added two more goals at the 47th and 84th minutes, the latter from a penalty after a foul by Sergio Busquets. Mascherano commented: “That first goal really hurt us, but we managed to regain control for a while. The second goal also affected us, and after Tomás Avilés was sent off, there was no way back.”

In three of their last four away matches, Inter Miami suffered heavy losses: 4-1 against Orlando City, 3-0 to the Seattle Sounders, and 3-0 versus Charlotte FC, along with a 1-1 draw against DC United, the bottom team in the Eastern Conference.

Mascherano defended his actions, saying the league provided no specific guidelines on where a coach must be positioned after an ejection, and that had his location been prohibited, he would have been instructed to leave.

Amid the controversy, the Leagues Cup announced the disciplinary measures against Mascherano: a one-match suspension, which will prevent him from being on the sideline for the semifinal, and a financial fine.

The amount of the fine was not publicly disclosed but, according to journalist Jose Armando Rodriguez, has already been communicated to both the club and the coach.

Rodriguez also noted that the referee’s report, which the Leagues Cup used to justify the sanction, cited Mascherano’s use of “offensive and abusive language” toward the match officials.

Mascherano explains his ejection

When asked about the reasons for his red card, Mascherano acknowledged speaking forcefully to the referees but denied issuing any insults. “There was a discussion at the end of the first half because the referee had added four minutes, but six were played. I argued with the fourth official. I didn’t insult him, but I did argue with considerable force,” he explained.

He added, “I went to the locker room and was told, ‘Be careful because the referee could caution or send you off.’ After halftime, I returned to the bench, sat down, and the referee came and showed me the red card”.

Leagues Cup rules

According to Leagues Cup regulations, when a coach is ejected, they “may only remain in the locker rooms, team suites, or in a spectator-isolated area approved by the Organizing Committee”.

However, following the match against Tigres, the Leagues Cup issued a statement addressing the controversy: “The Inter Miami coach was in a designated area in accordance with the tournament regulations. Cell phone communications are not prohibited under the Leagues Cup regulations. Please note that actions are reviewed by the Leagues Cup Disciplinary Committee,” read the statement cited by Rodriguez.

Inter Miami’s dramatic 2–1 win over Tigres UANL in the Leagues Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday didn’t just grab headlines for the result. Much of the post-match conversation centered around coach Javier Mascherano, who was ejected at halftime and later spotted using his phone in the stands to communicate with staff.

Mascherano was shown a red card during the interval following a heated exchange with referees about the amount of stoppage time added in the first half. He sit just above the Miami bench in Section 101, keeping himself within shouting distance of his players. Cameras later caught him on the phone during the 57th minute, fueling speculation that he was instructing his staff in real time.

When asked about the incident, Mascherano defended his actions and emphasized that he had done nothing out of line. “The truth is the stands at our stadium are very close to the pitch, so I tried to stay as near as possible to help the team,” he said to the press (via Goal).

“It’s something that has happened many times in football and will continue to happen. I didn’t break any rules – I could’ve been sitting in an owner’s suite instead. The team needed me close. I’ll accept whatever consequences come,” he added.

For its part, the Leagues Cup issued a statement defending Mascherano’s presence and actions. “The Inter Miami coach was in a designated area in accordance with the tournament regulations. Cell phone communications are not prohibited under the Leagues Cup regulations. Please note that actions are reviewed by the Leagues Cup Disciplinary Committee,” the competition said, as reported by journalist José Armando.

What comes next for Mascherano and Miami?

For now, Miami faces a busy week ahead, starting with an MLS regular season clash on August 23, 2025, when they travel to Audi Field to take on D.C. United at 6:30 PM EST, followed by a high-stakes Leagues Cup semifinal at home on August 27, where they will host Orlando City SC.

Inter Miami edged Tigres UANL 2–1 in a dramatic Leagues Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday, Aug. 20, despite the absence of Lionel Messi. The Argentine star sat out with a hamstring injury, watching from a suite at Chase Stadium rather than leading his team on the pitch. However, the attention was also on Miami’s head coach Javier Mascherano.

Mascherano was sent off before the start of the second half after a heated dispute with referees over added stoppage time. Forced to leave the technical area, Mascherano took a seat in the stands directly above his team’s bench in Section 101.

Cameras later caught him on his phone during the 57th minute, appearing to pass instructions down to his coaching staff while assistants Leandro Stillitano and Lucas Rodriguez Pagano handled the touchline duties. The moment quickly set social media buzzing.

However, Leagues Cup responded to the controversy with a statement. “The Inter Miami coach was in a designated area in accordance with the tournament regulations. Cell phone communications are not prohibited under the Leagues Cup regulations. Please note that actions are reviewed by the Leagues Cup Disciplinary Committee,” read a statement cited by journalist José Armando.

The statment makes clear that Mascherano didn’t technically break any tournament rules. Still, questions remain about whether his in-game phone instructions might draw further review from organizers.

Match Recap

On the field, Luis Suarez was the hero of the night, converting two penalty kicks after Tigres defender Javier Aquino was twice penalized for handballs inside the box. The first came when Jordi Alba’s cross struck Aquino in the 52nd minute, while the decisive spot kick arrived in the 89th after another handball by the same player.

Tigres managed to level the score in the 67th minute through Angel Correa, who weaved through the Inter Miami defense for the equalizer. But just as Tigres looked to steal momentum, Suarez delivered the winner from the spot.

Between Messi’s absence, Mascherano’s red card and phone calls, and Suarez’s clutch penalties, this quarterfinal had everything. And now, all eyes turn to whether the Leagues Cup Disciplinary Committee has the final word on Mascherano’s cameo.

In the most recent press conference, head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed that Lionel Messi trained separately and updated his availability for tomorrow’s game against Tigres in the 2025 Leagues Cup. “We’ll see how he feels throughout the day tomorrow, but he’s not ruled out. It has a lot to do with how he feels.”

Although Messi played in Inter Miami‘s last game, he struggled throughout the game. This led to speculation, later confirmed by Javier Mascherano, that the Argentine had not fully recovered from his injury. Consequently, while Lionel has not been officially ruled out, it’s expected that his role against Tigres in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals may be limited to a few minutes.

Lionel Messi has not been able to play regularly in the 2025 Leagues Cup with Inter Miami. He has only played one full game, where he contributed two important assists, and left the next game 11 minutes into the first half. As a result, the Argentine has not yet scored in the competition. If he manages to get some playing time against Tigres, he could look to break his drought in the tournament.

Could Lionel Messi soon welcome new teammates at Inter Miami? Javier Mascherano breaks silence

Inter Miami, while enjoying a respectable string of victories, have recently shown signs of a pressing need to bolster their roster further. During a recent press conference, Javier Mascherano addressed the ongoing speculation about whether the team plans to keep reinforcing its lineup for the remainder of the season.

“We’ll see. The team is working on bringing in one or two reinforcements. Let’s hope it works out that way. What I can tell you is that we hope no one leaves. The players who are with us today will stay with us until the end of the season.” Mascherano said.

With this, the possible arrival of Gonzalo Piovi from Cruz Azul of Liga MX, along with another reinforcement yet to be revealed, is gaining momentum. Meanwhile, the departure of David Ruiz has been ruled out. According to Jose Armando Rodriguez, he had attracted the attention of several MLS franchises, but he remains with the team. What is certain is that Lionel Messi could soon see an improved roster better equipped to compete for the MLS Cup.

The spotlight in the press conference fell on Mascherano’s reaction to Benjamin Cremaschi, who had voiced frustration about his lack of playing time and the uncertainty surrounding his role on the field.

Mascherano was asked directly about the 20-year-old’s comments, which were clearly aimed at him. The coach did not hold back, stating: “They were unfortunate because, in one way or another, when you hear those types of declarations it makes us look like we’re improvising.”

Beyond the lack of consistency, Cremaschi also questioned the clarity of his position on the pitch, saying the situation was mentally draining. Mascherano fired back sharply: “You need to have the tools to speak out. I understand what Benja wanted to say, that he has been used in different roles. But when he starts a match, he knows perfectly well where he has to play because we prepare games in detail. It’s not like I wake up in the morning and flip a coin.”

What Cremaschi said

Cremaschi made it clear he was upset about not receiving the minutes he believed he deserved, regardless of the reasons behind it. However, Mascherano’s frustration was just as obvious, especially with the way the midfielder went public with his remarks and left both the coach and squad in a difficult position.

“It frustrates me, I want to play, that’s the most important thing for me. I want to play at a very high level, and that comes with minutes. I haven’t played much in these last games. I don’t think it’s because of my level because I feel good. I imagine it’s for other reasons, or maybe because of my level,” Cremaschi had declared earlier in the week.

Mascherano’s message with a nod to Barcelona

Mascherano then referenced his own soccer career, recalling how a position change at Barcelona became a turning point. His story carried a strong message for Cremaschi and his future in the game: “In a match, different situations happen, and when you come off the bench you might have to fill one role or another depending on what’s going on and who you’re replacing,” said the former Argentina U-20 coach.

“I understand that he likes to play as a midfielder — I liked to play there too. But when I went to Barcelona, I had to play as a center back because otherwise I wouldn’t have had any chance.” Mascherano added: “This is professional soccer. I decide where I believe each player can give me the best. And as I always say, my office door is open if anyone feels uncomfortable or doesn’t want to play in a certain position. They can come and tell me directly.”

Finally, Mascherano closed with a message directed at Cremaschi: “So far, I haven’t heard any complaints face-to-face. No one has told me anything. As time goes by and he gains more experience, he will begin to understand the perspective from this side.”

Cremaschi’s versatility has been one of the main reasons Mascherano has used him in different roles, especially during stretches when Inter Miami have been hit with injuries and suspensions. That adaptability also earned him a call-up to the United States squad for the Paris 2024 Olympics.