Is Lionel Messi playing today, August 23, in Washington for Inter Miami vs DC United?

Inter Miami will face DC United in Washington for MLS Matchday 30. After missing the team’s recent 2-1 win over Tigres in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals, many are wondering whether Argentine star Lionel Messi will be available for the league match.

The Herons head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed during Friday morning’s press conference that the Argentine will not travel to Washington, as the team is prioritizing his fitness for the upcoming Leagues Cup semifinal against Orlando City. As a result, Messi has been ruled out for tonight’s match.

“Leo is not going to travel. He will rest because of the trip, because of everything that comes with it, and because of the importance of Wednesday, so we’ll take it day by day,” Mascherano told reporters. He added that Messi is not injured, only dealing with some discomfort: “It’s a minor issue, not an injury, but we’ll continue to monitor him”.

Messi suffered a minor muscle issue in his right leg during the group stage match against Necaxa in the Leagues Cup. Although he was initially expected to miss at least three games, Mascherano brought him back after two absences. Messi played 45 minutes against LA Galaxy, scoring a stunning goal that earned him recognition from the MLS.

However, the coach has decided to give him two matches off, sitting him out for both the Leagues Cup quarterfinal and the upcoming MLS clash against DC United. With this planned rest, Messi is expected to return as a starter for Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup semifinal against Orlando City.

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Messi not the only star missing

Messi won’t be the only high-profile absence for Inter Miami in Washington. Defender Jordi Alba will also sit out after picking up a knock to his knee in the Tigres match. Mascherano explained the decision in similar terms as with Messi.

“Jordi took a knock. If you watch the replay, thank God it turned out to be something minor — it could’ve been a lot worse,” Mascherano said. “Hopefully he continues to recover. As of yesterday, the area was still quite swollen. It’s a knock on the inner part of the knee”.

With both Messi and Alba sidelined, Mascherano is expected to rotate his starting lineup heavily to keep players fresh for the upcoming Orlando derby. Inter Miami are chasing their second Leagues Cup trophy in club history after winning the 2023 edition — Messi’s first title with the team.