Despite Inter Miami not officially confirming the plan, soccer superstar Lionel Messi has expressed his intention to participate in the club’s season finale on Saturday.
This announcement came following his remarkable performance for Argentina, where he scored both goals in their 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory against Peru on Tuesday night.
On Wednesday night, Inter Miami faced Charlotte in their final home game of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season, with Messi notably absent from the line-up. However, Messi, dressed casually in a white T-shirt, was seen on the Inter Miami bench alongside his teammates after returning from Peru earlier in the day.
Although it was expected that Messi would not play on Wednesday, he surprised reporters in Peru by expressing his desire to make one more appearance for Inter Miami before concluding his inaugural MLS season. This means he is keen to participate in Saturday’s match, despite the fact that it will be played on artificial turf.
Messi stated, “I’ll play the game that is left now,” signaling his eagerness to contribute. This determination is particularly noteworthy as Messi had been battling a leg injury over the past few weeks.
Inter Miami, Charlotte draw 2-2 on Wednesday
While Messi’s declaration of intent to play may have been a welcome announcement for Inter Miami fans, it was a less favorable development for Charlotte. On Wednesday, Charlotte squandered two one-goal leads and drew 2-2 against Miami, missing an opportunity to climb from 12th to 8th place in the Eastern Conference. The top nine teams in each conference qualify for the MLS playoffs.
Goals from Enzo Copetti and Kerwin Vargas contributed to Charlotte’s score, while Nicolas Stefanelli and Robbie Robinson found the net for Inter Miami. The outcome of Saturday’s match could still influence Charlotte’s playoff aspirations, depending on the results of other matches on Decision Day in MLS.
Inter Miami had previously been eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the month. Coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino had mentioned the possibility of Messi playing on Saturday, contingent on assessing his physical condition following the Argentina qualifying games.
Martino, after Wednesday’s match, indicated that they would discuss Messi’s readiness for the upcoming game, emphasizing the importance of Messi’s fitness and confidence. However, he did not make a definitive commitment to Messi’s participation.
Notably, the prospect of Messi taking the field has had a significant impact on ticket sales, with Charlotte selling over 60,000 tickets for the 74,000-seat stadium ahead of Saturday’s match.
Messi’s annualized compensation with Inter Miami just over $20.4 million
In a related development, the MLS Players Association disclosed that Messi’s annualized compensation from his MLS contract with Inter Miami amounts to just over $20.4 million. This figure exceeds the entire payroll of all but three other MLS teams and is twice the combined earnings of all players on Orlando City.
Messi, aged 36, has a base salary of $12 million and total guaranteed compensation of $20,446,667, according to the players association’s 2023 salary update. Inter Miami has stated that Messi’s 2 1/2-year contract, extending through the 2025 season, is valued at approximately $150 million. These figures do not account for any additional agreements with the team or performance bonuses.
Due to his commitment to Argentina for World Cup qualifiers, Messi was unavailable for Wednesday’s rescheduled match, which stemmed from both teams’ deep runs in the League Cup tournament. With Saturday’s match having no bearing on the standings, Inter Miami was cautious about risking Messi’s health, considering his status as a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Messi is also expected to feature for Inter Miami in exhibition matches in China on November 5 and November 8. Argentina has more World Cup qualifiers scheduled for November 16 and November 21, after which Messi will likely enjoy an extended break before Inter Miami begins preparations for the 2024 season.
Throughout the current season, Messi has scored 11 goals in 13 matches for Inter Miami. The team has posted an 8-1-4 record when he plays, including winning the Leagues Cup championship. In contrast, Inter Miami has struggled, going 1-3-3 in seven matches without Messi since his arrival. His only appearance as a substitute on October 7 against Cincinnati resulted in a 1-0 defeat, sealing Inter Miami’s playoff elimination. Messi is also expected to be named the Ballon d’Or winner for the eighth time when the award is announced in Paris on October 30.
