Lionel Messi will reportedly not play for Inter Miami today in their pre-season friendly against Al-Nassr, with Cristiano Ronaldo already ruled out.
The Saudi Arabia club announced earlier this week that the 38-year-old striker will not feature later this afternoon for Al-Nassr after struggling with a calf injury over the mid-season break.
Today’s clash between Inter Miami and Al-Nassr has been dubbed in the Middle East as ‘The Last Dance’ between Messi and Ronaldo, two of the greatest rivals soccer has ever seen.
Yet according to Marca, Messi might now also be out for today’s fixture, with the Argentine suffering from some discomfort after Inter Miami’s 4-3 loss against Al-Hilal.
With Ronaldo already absent from the match, there will be great disappointment across the sporting world over Messi now potentially missing the clash due to a fitness issue.
However, for Inter Miami, resting Messi could be for the best, especially with more pre-season friendlies on then horizon for the MLS franchise.
Inter Miami can’t force Lionel Messi to play vs Al-Nassr if he’s hurt
Inter Miami’s worldwide pre-season tour has been used as a promotional tool for the Herons to raise their global profile and for international fans to catch a glimpse at Messi.
And whilst there will be disappointment if the forward is ruled out for tonight, Inter Miami have to put promotional growth aside for one second to focus on Messi the player and the person.
Indeed, keeping the Argentine fit and healthy has to be the number one goal for Inter Miami this pre-season ahead of the new MLS campaign.
And if that means sitting Messi out for one or a handful fo pre-season games, then that’s what Inter Miami must do, even if means upsetting a few fans.