Lionel Messi: Why didn’t he play for Inter Miami at Atlanta United?

While the Open Cup would be Miami’s second-ever trophy, after capturing Leagues Cup over Nashville SC in mid-August, the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs aren’t a sure thing. Tata acknowledged as much after Saturday’s setback left the Herons seven points out of the ninth-and-last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with just seven games remaining.

“There are seven, eight games left, and even if we won them all, there’s no certainty either that we’d enter [the playoffs],” Martino said. “We unfortunately started this race too far behind.”

But Miami plan to keep up the good fight, starting with Wednesday’s home showdown against Toronto FC (7:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass).

Will Messi and Alba be on the DRV PNK Stadium pitch? Tata isn’t revealing much for now.

“[Messi] will train tomorrow with Jordi,” Martino said. “We’ll take it day by day.”