What does Inter Miami need from Messi to advance to the MLS playoffs?

Inter Miami is in an extreme situation. Major League Soccer is nearing the end of the first round and both conferences still have a lot at stake. When it was expected that the arrival of Lionel Messi was going to facilitate qualification for the playoff round, the Argentine star had to miss several games due to injury and now they are trying to get him to the game against Cincinnati this Saturday, October 7, in any way possible.

Counting the last game that they lost 4-1 against Chicago Fire, there are now four games that Messi has missed due to injury. According to the word of Gerardo Martino, the Las Garzas coach, Leo is leaving his injury behind. In fact, the official Inter Miami account published a photo on its official X (Twitter) account of the Argentine accompanied by the phrase “see you tomorrow”, implying that he could be present this Saturday.

At the moment, Inter Miami is in fourteenth position in the Eastern Conference with 33 points. The problem is that to advance to the playoff round they must surpass five teams in the standings. In front of him he has Charlotte with 36, New York RB and DC United with 37, Montreal with 38 and the team to catch, New York City FC, also with 38 points, but with a better goal difference in their favor.

To qualify for the next round, today it no longer depends on itself. They must win the three remaining games to finish the competition and then hope that those at the top add less. One factor that Miami's team does not like very much is that they must play against Cincinnati this Saturday, precisely the team that won the most in the entire MLS and also the one that has the most points. They lead the Eastern Conference with 65 points, almost double what Inter has.

Will Messi be present against Cincinnati?

It will be the unknown from here until the match begins, but the Argentine star wants to be there because of the characteristic competitiveness that he has and all the clues indicate that he will be present at least on the substitutes' bench. The match will be played in Florida, Inter Miami will be the venue for a more than decisive game for Martino's team, since if they lose, they could be out of the playoffs permanently.