For MLS, Inter Miami, and soccer fans in general it seems like a dog’s age since Lionel Messi played a match in an Inter Miami jersey. The Argentine’s numbers when on the field are something to bet your house on, between MLS league play and Concacaf Champions Cup, Messi has 5 goals in 5 games.
Since then, his nagging muscle injury has kept him out of 5 matches for his club, and 2 for country. In that time period Inter Miami, despite its other star power has a woeful, 1-3-1 record, Tata Martino’s side has huge difficulty winning when Messi is not on the field.
Now against the .500 (2-2-2) Colorado Rapids who are seventh in the MLS West, assistant coach Javi Morales provided an uninspiring update on the Argentine who could miss his sixth match in a row.
Update on Lionel Messi vs. Rapids
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Morales indicated, “(Messi) trains every day, he takes the field, trains with the physical trainers, depending on how he feels, he trains with the group, lately he’s been training in a lot of sessions.”
Javi Morales sobre Lionel Messi y su volumen de trabajo: "Últimamente está participando mucho de los entrenamientos" Todo depende de cómo se siente. #InterMiamiCF
All signs point to Messi being absent once again for his club in what is a must win game for Inter Miami to not lose ground in the MLS East where they are second with 11 points with a 3-2-2 record.
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids on the other hand are 2-2-2 for the season and last week defeated LAFC 3-2 in a huge win, before that the inconsistent Rapids were defeated by the Houston Dynamo 1-0 in the last two match days.
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The Rapids have restructured themselves under Chris Armas, the club has relied on Americans who had a difficult time adjusting to European soccer with the returns of Sam Vines, Djordje Mihailovic, and Zack Steffen.
