Lionel Messi was notably absent from Inter Miami’s matchday squad for their recent MLS regular-season clash against Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium. The highly anticipated game ended in a goalless draw, with the team unable to find the back of the net. This decision to rest the Argentine captain came just days after Inter Miami’s demanding fixture on Wednesday night against Nashville SC in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16. That match, held at GEODIS Park, also concluded with a 0-0 stalemate, with Messi playing the full 90 minutes.
The club’s coaching staff opted to give Messi a break from Saturday’s league encounter, strategically prioritizing his fitness ahead of the crucial second leg against Nashville, scheduled for the following Wednesday. This tactical move allowed veteran Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez to make his first start of the current season, leading the line in Messi’s stead. Also missing from both the starting eleven and the substitutes’ bench was Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s compatriot and teammate for both Inter Miami and the Argentine national team.
Coaching Staff Explains Rationale Behind Messi’s Absence
Javier Morales, assistant coach for Inter Miami, addressed the media following the match, shedding light on the decision-making process. “These are decisions we have to make as a coaching staff,” Morales stated. “We’ve been playing a lot of games lately – Wednesdays, Saturdays – and we have a very important home game coming up, so Javier [Mascherano] and the coaching staff thought it was the best decision. It was a collective decision.”
Morales found himself handling postgame media duties due to head coach Javier Mascherano’s ejection from the game. Mascherano received two yellow cards in quick succession during stoppage time, leading to his dismissal. Describing the incident, Morales commented, “I think there was a misunderstanding, because Mascherano was talking to one of the players and he was a little bit out of the box, but the referee, in my opinion, was too sensitive. When you play these kinds of games, away with a lot of kids in the game, you need to coach. Javier was with a lot of energy on the sidelines. Unfortunately, he got a red card.”
A Look Back at Previous Encounters and Competition Priorities
This absence of key players like Messi and De Paul also brings to mind their previous visit to Bank of America Stadium in September 2025. On that occasion, Inter Miami suffered a 3-0 defeat against Charlotte FC. Interestingly, the stadium’s artificial turf did not appear to be a factor in that game’s outcome, as Messi, along with fellow Barcelona legends Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, and De Paul, all featured in the regular season match.
Focusing on Continental Aspirations
With the league draw now behind them, Inter Miami’s attention shifts towards their Concacaf Champions Cup campaign. The team is aiming to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the prestigious continental competition. While Mascherano has previously acknowledged the Champions League as a significant priority for the club, he has also emphasized a balanced approach to all tournaments.
“We’re not a team that chooses which competitions to play in; we’re obligated to compete in all of them,” Mascherano had stated earlier in the week. “Clearly, the Champions League is the only competition the club normally plays in that we’re missing, and it’s generating a lot of excitement for all of us. Now, what we can’t allow is for this to become an obsession. It’s one thing to be excited, another to be obsessed.”
Early Season Standings
The goalless draw against Charlotte FC leaves Inter Miami, last year’s MLS Cup winners, with seven points accumulated from their opening four games of the 2026 season. The team will be looking to build on this tally and find their attacking rhythm in the upcoming fixtures.
