Messi out for Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United

Inter Miami faces yet another more or less must-win game in the club’s pursuit of a playoff spot, but Lionel Messi won’t be there to help.

The iconic No. 10’s status for Saturday’s game against Atlanta United has been the subject of some speculation, with Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino saying that the club wouldn’t decide on whether Messi would travel or not until after Friday’s training session.

“We will be careful with him because we have a lot of important games in a short span,” Martino told reporters. “But the idea is to not get Leo or any other player injured.”

Martino later declared that Messi doesn’t have an existing injury, but the realities of international travel while playing in MLS remain daunting. Messi produced a free kick goal in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Ecuador, then traveled but did not play in a 3-0 road win over Bolivia.

Before sitting out that World Cup qualifier in La Paz, Messi had played 12 games in a 48-day span thanks to Miami’s Leagues Cup run, a congested MLS regular season slate, an Open Cup semifinal, and the Albiceleste’s win in CONMEBOL qualifying.

Given all that, hints started to emerge that Messi might not be heavily involved against Atlanta. Following Martino discussing Messi’s status, Messi posted an Instagram story Friday night showing what appeared to be a “Don Antonio” pizza from Banchero, a Miami Beach pizzeria known for its Argentine-style pies.

Messi then turned up at his son Thiago’s match with Inter Miami’s Under-12 team with what looked for all the world like a full cup of maté and some rolled-up jean shorts.

That pizza last night, these jorts this morning. The 🐐’s having a shocker. pic.twitter.com/ozyFGhpKCG

— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) September 16, 2023

Banchero is located right on Miami Beach, while Inter Miami’s academy teams play at the club’s training facility. Both of these places are nowhere near Atlanta.

There were also reports from ESPN Argentina saying that Messi did not make the 664-mile trip north, but whatever, that’s not as fun. What’s on a Don Antonio? Jorts? That’s the good stuff.

(By the way, the Don Antonio comes with mozzarella, tomato sauce, tomato slices, onion, anchovies, olives, and the official position of Pro Soccer Wire is that it looks a little odd, but we’d try it for sure)

Anyway with kickoff approaching, the club delivered confirmation: no Messi in the starting 11, or on the bench.

How we’re lining up tonight 😤#ATLvMIA | 5PM ET | #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV pic.twitter.com/DPeFSLtylk

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 16, 2023

Without Messi, Martino started Robert Taylor and Facundo Farías to either side of Leo Campana. Edison Azcona, Josef Martínez, Nicolás Stefanelli, and Robbie Robinson were the attacking options available off the bench. Messi, presumably, is watching from his humble abode.