If he shines in MLS under the colors of Inter Miami, with 10 goals and 13 assists in 10 matches this season, Lionel Messi, 36, clearly cannot play every weekend. As 10 days ago for the derby against Orlando (0-0), the Ballon d’Or record holder is spared by Tata Martino for the meeting in Vancouver, Saturday (4:30 a.m. in France, on Apple TV via MLS Season Pass). However, he had participated in training open to the public on Tuesday.
“La Pulga” does not make the trip to the other side of the North American continent, on the west coast of Canada, just like Jordi Alba, victim of a muscle injury, as well as Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez, also left behind. rest under the Florida sun. Note that the Whitecaps’ BC Place offers a synthetic turf and the media following David Beckham’s franchise had already highlighted the problems with this turf before the Inter Miami match at the New England Revolution’s Gillette Stadium.
No Olympics for Lionel Messi?
Inter Miami will try to bring back a good result from British Columbia, while the Herons are still at the top of the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer, thanks to 9 victories in 15 matches, with one point more than Cincinnati. The first 7 in each table qualify directly for the playoffs next October, but first place also guarantees a ticket for the next Concacaf Champions Cup.
As a reminder, Lionel Messi is unfortunately not expected to play in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games football tournament with the Argentine Espoirs. The Abiceleste captain will soon play the Copa América with his country, in the United States, from June 20 to July 14 (while the MLS will continue to be played). He should not be released for the Olympics, which will begin on July 24 for men’s football (while the MLS will stop to make way for the Leagues Cup).
