Inter Miami is red hot, the best team overall in Major League Soccer atop the East and Supporters Shield standings. The club’s biggest stars have saved the team from various defeats during the season, namely Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, who are having MVP seasons.
No duo in MLS produces like Suarez and Messi, but Tata Martino will be missing the league’s biggest star as Messi is reportedly not traveling with the team against Orlando City as per Tom Bogert.
Orlando City, on the other hand, has had a disappointing start to the MLS season, languishing in 11th place in the East with an underwhelming record of 3-5-3. Despite having a talented squad on paper, head coach Óscar Pareja has found few answers.
Lionel Messi to Miss Orlando City Game
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Messi was listed as questionable in Tuesday’s MLS Player Availability Report, although he was filmed doing recovery training on Monday. Now it has been confirmed by Bogert that the Argentine will not travel with the team. Inter Miami has a 1W-1D-2L in MLS matches when Messi has not played.
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF reacts after Elliot Panicco #30 of Nashville SC controls the ball in the second half during a match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on August 30, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Inter Miami has a long list of players out, including: Facundo Farias (knee, out for the season), Ian Fray (knee, out), Diego Gómez (ankle, out), Federico Redondo (knee, out), Robbie Robinson (knee, out), and now Lionel Messi (leg, out).
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Orlando City also has a long list of unavailable players, including: Ramiro Enrique (ankle, out), Mikey Halliday (knee, out), Robin Jansson (ankle, out), Tahir Reid-Brown (thigh, out), and Rafael Santos (shoulder, questionable).
