Conflicting Reports Surround Lionel Messi’s Injury Status Amid Inter Miami’s Playoff Push
London, 1st October 2023: As Inter Miami fought to a dramatic 1-1 draw against New York City FC, all eyes were on Lionel Messi, who was conspicuously absent from the field. Despite the match’s thrilling conclusion, which saw the Herons come close to a last-minute win, Messi’s injury status remained the focal point in post-match discussions.
An independent source, the Inter Miami Podcast, claimed that Messi had suffered a 2 cm hamstring tear, as confirmed by MRI, potentially sidelining him for the rest of the MLS season. However, Inter Miami’s head coach, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, refuted the claim in a post-match press conference.
Martino stated that Messi’s condition is being evaluated on a game-to-game basis, adding that the star player has been participating in separate training sessions and is “feeling better and better.” He had previously indicated that Messi would return before the MLS season concludes.
The draw leaves Inter Miami in a precarious position in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They are four points behind ninth-place CF Montréal with only four games remaining. However, Miami has a game in hand over Montréal and two over D.C. United, offering a glimmer of hope for a playoff spot.
Martino expressed optimism despite the team’s challenging schedule, which includes five matches in two weeks. “We have great expectations,” he said, praising the team’s resilience. Inter Miami will next face the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, followed by a home game against Cincinnati on Saturday.
