Lionel Messi will miss 7 MLS games for Inter Miami next season
Inter Miami begin their 2024 Major League Soccer campaign in February and star player Lionel Messi will miss several of the team’s important matches throughout the season
Lionel Messi will miss at least seven games for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer next season.
Messi completed his first season with Miami in November, where the club finished 14th in the Eastern Conference standings and missed out on the play-offs. The Argentina legend scored 11 goals in his 14 appearances after signing for the club in June as a free agent, following his exit from Paris Saint-Germain.
The 2024 MLS season is due to get underway in February, as Messi prepares for his first full campaign in the United States. However, before the season has already begun, Miami will be aware that their star player will be absent for at least seven games.
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This is due to Messi being likely to have commitments with the Argentina national team throughout 2024. As a result, Messi will be absent from the Miami squad while he features for his country in their respective matches.
The Copa America takes place this summer across June and July, where Messi will be looking to help Argentina win another major title after the World Cup triumph in 2022. Messi will therefore miss at least five MLS games for Miami while the tournament is taking place.
Those five games will come from June 15 to July 6 and will include matchups against Philadelphia Union, Colombus Crew, Nashville SC, Charlotte FC, and FC Cincinnati.
Messi and Argentina have three group games against Chile, Peru, and another team that is yet to qualify. The final for the Copa America is on July 14, just three days before Miami hosts Toronto at the DRV PNK Stadium in MLS.
Miami could also be without Messi for two of their games towards the start of the season. March will see a FIFA international break take place, although it has yet to be confirmed what matches Argentina will play.
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Lionel Messi has made an instant impact in the MLS since his move to Inter Miami. Helping the club to cup glory and firing them up the table, Messi is once again the most talked about player in the game and now you can get the stylish Adidas made Inter Miami home and away shirt.
Reports emerged earlier this year that talks were in place for Argentina to take on European teams in friendly matches in March 2024. While the opponents have yet to be confirmed, it was claimed from reports in Argentina that the two games may come against teams that include England, Portugal, Germany, France, or the Netherlands.
As a result, should Argentina have friendly games in March, the forward will miss two more MLS matches for Miami. Those games would be against DC United on March 16 and New York Red Bulls on March 23.
Messi will be involved during Miami’s pre-season campaign which will include six games throughout February – including a matchup against Cristiano Ronaldo with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr. That will all be the build-up to the opening game of the MLS season on February 21 against Real Salt Lake.
