Once again, fans turned their worried eyes towards Lionel Messi. The striker was absent from the match against Cavalier FC in the 1/8 round of the 2025 Champions Cup. He was not even named on the bench due to a muscle strain that he had been suffering for several days.

So, in the first leg, coach Javier Mascherano once again decided not to risk Messi at the start of a challenging season in which Inter Miami will aim to fight for the MLS and Concachampions titles, in addition to participating in the Club World Cup. For this reason, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is also monitoring the physical condition of the number 10 to see how he will be fit for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Which matches has Messi missed this year?

This is the second time Messi has been left off the bench for Inter Miami. He was left out of the MLS second round 4-1 win over Houston Dynamo last week. Like the current situation, this muscle strain is not serious, but if subjected to high intensity in a match, it could lead to a muscle tear or any other injury of that nature that requires more recovery time.

Messi, on the other hand, has started 2025 with a lot of activity. First, he has completed pre-season training with the team, which is important for him so that he does not have to sit out for as long as he did in 2024. In addition, La Pulga has participated in five pre-season friendlies, played the first and second legs against Kansas City in the first round of Concachampions and had his MLS opener end in a 2-2 draw against New York City, in which he had two assists. Now it is time for Messi to take precautions and get ready for what is coming, both with Inter Miami and the national team.

The truth is that Inter Miami still have three games to play before FIFA Day in March. On March 10, they face Charlotte in the third round of MLS, a match that, if Messi is fit, he could play. Then, on March 14, they face the Cavaliers in Jamaica, where Inter Miami will look to advance to the quarterfinals. Then, on March 17, they face Atlanta United, where, if Messi is fit, he is expected to start.

Messi will then play for his national team, hoping to get the best out of them. On this FIFA day, Argentina play two classics: first against Uruguay in Montevideo on March 22, then host Brazil (with Neymar in the squad) at the Monumental on March 26.