As happens with most MLS cities, there is fervor among the fans in Houston to see Inter Miami global superstar Lionel Messi whenever he comes to town.
However, according to multiple media reports on Saturday, the Argentine superstar did not make the trip with Inter Miami to face the Dynamo on Sunday night.
A sellout crowd of 22,000 was expecting to see the Argentine superstar, who has two goals and two assists in three games this season, which includes Miami’s two victories over Sporting KC in the opening round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Per an ESPN report on Saturday, Messi is not injured and is projected to play Thursday in Inter Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup first-leg match against Jamaican side Cavalier FC in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets all exited Tuesday night’s second-leg matchup in the 69th minute. But first-year Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said the move was intentional to get their veteran stars rest during a busy schedule with the club’s participation in multiple competitions.
“Leo is fine. He is OK. He will train normally like the rest of his teammates,” Mascherano told reporters on Friday.
Both squads are looking for their first MLS season victories as Inter Miami (0-0-1, 1 point) and NYCFC played to a 2-2 draw on Feb. 22. Houston (0-1-0, 0 points) lost 2-1 to FC Dallas that day in its season opener.
Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender remains questionable due to an adductor muscle injury, but veteran Oscar Ustari has filled in nicely.
Houston defender Franco Escobar and striker Ezequiel Ponce, who hail from Messi’s hometown of Rosario in Argentina and also played for Messi’s hometown club, Newell’s Old Boys, were looking forward to the opportunity to play against their country’s legendary player.
Escobar even has a tattoo of Messi kissing the World Cup trophy on his right thigh.
“It’s going to be something very beautiful for me that will remain in my memories until the day I no longer play. For me, the best player in history,” Escobar told USA Today Sports before reports surfaced that Messi would not play Sunday. “It’s something very beautiful that doesn’t happen every day, and it’s going to be a very beautiful game and a very beautiful memory for me and for all of us.”
–Field Level Media
