Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s game vs New York Red Bulls will be shown live in Times Square tonight
- Lionel Messi has had a stunning impact on soccer in the US at Inter Miami
- But he could start as a substitute for Saturday’s New York Red Bulls game
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami game against New York Red Bulls is going to be shown live at Times Square on Saturday night – even though the superstar might not play.
The 36-year-old is expected to make his first appearance in Major League Soccer in the Big Apple – all of his Miami games so far have been cup games – but there is huge uncertainty about him starting the game.
MLS and Red Bulls announced the Times Square showing on social media, with Messi featuring on the billboard and the caption: ‘A massive MLS matchup requires a massive screen.’
But Miami coach Tata Martino has repeatedly suggested Messi – who has scored 10 goals in his first eight Miami games – could be rested due to the amount he has already played and the team’s busy upcoming schedule.
Speaking Friday, he said: ‘I understand the expectations the rest of the world has to watch him, and that is undeniable. But I cannot act based on that because then I would risk doing things wrong.’
Messi played 120 minutes as Miami defeated Cincinnati on penalties on Wednesday night and last weekend, played the full game as his team beat Nashville on penalties to win the Leagues Cup.
Speaking after that midweek game, Martino said: ‘Leo and many other players are reaching an important physical limit and from today we will start to evaluate this – how do I face at least the next three games.
‘You also have to take into account the large number of games that we played in 45, 50 days.’
Nashville have a chance for revenge on Wednesday when the two teams meet again in Miami. Messi then heads to California next weekend in a tough game against MLS Cup holders LAFC.
For all the success Miami has had in the cups since Messi arrived, they resume the MLS season in an awful position.
The team is last in the Eastern Conference, 14 points outside of the playoff places but with two games in hand on Chicago Fire, which occupies the ninth and final position.
There is such little margin for error for Miami – they basically need to win every game in the league from here on to have any chance – but Martino could view this game against Red Bulls as the best upcoming option for Messi to rest.
Red Bulls sit 11th in the MLS Eastern Conference, while Nashville is sixth and LAFC is second in the Western Conference.
There would be many hugely unhappy fans though if Messi doesn’t play from the beginning.
Tickets for Saturday night’s game have been selling for over $500, with some on resale site priced high in the thousands before news came out over Messi’s status.
