Sergio Busquets has revealed that Lionel Messi shares the same frustration as everyone else about missing crucial matches in Inter Miami’s quest for a spot in the MLS playoffs.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has had limited game time, playing only 37 minutes for the Florida-based team since returning from 2026 World Cup qualifying duties with the Argentine national team due to an unfortunate injury.
He has been sidelined for four consecutive matches, including a painful 4-1 loss to the Chicago Fire in their most recent outing.
This defeat may have dealt a severe blow to Inter Miami’s playoff aspirations, and even Messi’s exceptional talents are unlikely to salvage their postseason hopes.
Busquets has shared his thoughts on seeing a talismanic presence ruled out of Tata Martino’s plans:
“The first person who wants Leo to be on the field is Leo. Second is us, his teammates, because we know how important he is for us. It’s a shame, but in the world of football, you can’t control injuries.”
Fans in Chicago were disappointed not to catch a glimpse of Messi in action on Wednesday, but Fire boss Frank Klopas believes his team put on a performance to send supporters home happy.
He told reporters after a convincing victory at Soldier Field: “We talked about moments like this, opportunities; you have to grab them, and we did. It was sold out months ago. A lot of fans came for the first time to see Lionel Messi. Who doesn’t want to see him? Wherever Messi goes, it’s amazing what he’s done for the league. But the fans saw a great performance from our team. I guarantee a lot of people will go back home and say, ‘Wow, that was entertaining.’ It’s about putting a show on the field. And we did that. Hopefully, they’ll come back next year, and not just for the Inter Miami game.”
The Chicago Fire are almost certain to qualify for the MLS playoffs in 2023, but Inter Miami must try to repair a five-point deficit in just three games without a guarantee that Messi will return in time to help.