Lionel Messi will not play with Inter Miami for the second date of the United States MLS. The captain of the herons did not even get on the plane to accompany the squad to Texasto face the Houston Dynamo. That situation generated uncertainty for your physical conditionbecause last Wednesday there was I order the change With the series defined against Sporting Kansas City to advance to the second round of the Concacaf Champions. The DT Javier Mascherano ruled out an injury And everything seems to indicate that it is a scheduled rest taking into account the party of matches and that, in three weeks, the ARGENTINE SELECTION will face Uruguay y Brazil by the South American qualifiers, two ‘classic’ duels that the ‘flea’ does not want to lose.
After the agonizing tie at home against the New York FC in the debut by the MLS and the classification to the round of 16 at the continental level, Inter Miami shows this Sunday against the Houston Dynamoas visitor Shell Energy Stadium from 9:00 p.m. (Argentine time) and with exclusive television on the platform Apple TV through MLS Season Pass. But there will not be Messi.
The first foundation on his absence is that was present in the eight commitments From his team since he started 2025: the five friendlies of the tour of Latin America (America of Mexico, University of Peru, Sporting San Miguelito de Panama, Olimpia de Honduras and the classic against Orlando City SC), the two Duels of Concacaf against Sporting Kansas City and the debut in MLS front New York City FC, which also derived in a fine Economic for a controversial gesture that the cameras captured.
“Leo is fine, it’s normal and will train normally like all colleagues”was the brief response that Mascherano provided last Friday, during the habitual press conference prior to each meeting in the complex located in Fort Lauderdale. Of course, on Tuesday, in the triumph over Kansas, Messi gestured to the substitute bank at 69 minutes and was immediately replaced by Benjamín Cremaschi.
And at the time of traveling this Saturday, Messi was not on the payroll and stayed in Miami. “There are no two equal situations and you have to put everything in context. The Champions is an important competition within the planning of the season and also between the two matches of the tie, we had the beginning of the MLs where we also want to reach the highest possible. When we talk about rotating or dosing the players, you don’t have to be so bad and you have to see the context, that we play three games in six days. We did not have the rest that we previously had to have for the change of date of the first meeting and we are adapting to the circumstances, “explained the ‘Jefecito’, who is in his first experience as a coach at the club level.
Messi comes from converting his second goal of the season in Kansas. It was a tie that was easily resolved for those led by Javier Mascherano, Argentine DT who is undefeated from his arrival to replace Gerardo Martino, and allowed him to advance to the next instance of the continental contest, where he will face the Cavalier FC, champion of the Premier League of Jamaica.
In fact, when the election of Mascherano and his departure from the Sub 20 team of Argentina was confirmed, one of the arguments seemed its proximity with Messi – and other players of which he was a partner as a footballer – with the coaching staff of the Albiceleste, headed by Lionel Scaloni.
Because? It is known that reaching the 2026 World Cup in physical conditions is a desire for ‘flea’ And for that there must be a joint work between club and selection, and what better way to do it with someone who was on both sides of the counter.
In fact, in the ‘albiceles’ calendar of Messi there is Two games marked with highlights: Without other official competition (the finalissima against Spain, the clashes would be played in 2026) Friday 21 In Montevideo against Uruguay (The only team that beat him as a local in the qualifiers) and the Superclassic of the Americas against Brazilon Tuesday 25 in the Monumental, they are impossible for Leo.
Also the eighth series of the Champions of the Concacaf – one of the five titles that he has pending in his career – against the Cavalier fcwhich will begin this Thursday at the Chase Stadium in Miami (22:00 Argentina) and will have the rematch in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, on Thursday 13. In the middle, Sunday 9, he will receive Charlotte For the MLS.
Messi is essential for Inter Miami. In the three official meetings of this 2025, the 37 -year -old Rosario converted Two goals (both against Kansas) and distributed Two assists (In the agonizing 2-2 draw against New York City in the MLS debut). That is why it is a challenge for herds not to have his captain.
“When Leo is not on the court, the team feels it. He is the best player in the history of this sport, it would be ridiculous not to think that his absence does not feel,” Mascherano acknowledged,
A courtesy entry as compensation for the fans of the Houston Dynamo
Since, presumably, many Houston fans – and from the Argentine community in that city that was reflected in the flag that the selection had in the previous meeting against Ecuador for the quarterfinals of the Copa América 2024 – had planned to go this Sunday to see Messi, the Dynam will compensate for fans for their absence.
What does the statement published on Saturday, March 1? “The Houston Dynamo is excited to receive Inter Miami CF at the Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday night. The report on the status of the players that was recently shared for the game did not include striker Lionel Messi, but it was reported that he did not travel to Houston. Unfortunately, we have no control over who plays for our opponent, “he explained.
“We hope to receive everyone in what will be an incredible atmosphere and a football celebration for the city of Houston. To demonstrate our thanks, fans attending tomorrow night can claim a free admission for a future Dynamo game this season. Additional details will be provided at the beginning of next week,” he closed.