Lionel Messi is poised to join Inter Miami’s squad in Kingston, Jamaica, for Thursday’s second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup tie against Cavalier. Head coach Javier Mascherano revealed the plan to evaluate Messi’s condition on game day before deciding whether he starts or comes off the bench. It’s the first time he’s traveled since sitting out three consecutive matches due to what Mascherano described as workload management, not injury.
Messi has never played on Jamaican soil, though he has faced the nation’s team while representing Argentina. Now, local fans are counting down to a sell-out crowd of 35,000 at the National Stadium. The traffic in Kingston could be chaotic, but it’s a small price to pay for a chance to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner live.
Inter Miami, holding a 2-0 advantage from last week’s win in Florida, is clear about the stakes. A single away goal could push them through to the quarterfinals. Mascherano underscored the team’s approach, explaining that caution around Messi’s recent fatigue led to him missing the first leg. “Leo Messi is on the roster and will travel with the team to Jamaica,” he said. “Tomorrow (Thursday) we will decide for the game what is best, if he starts or waits on the bench and comes in later.”
Focus on Messi’s fitness
Mascherano’s biggest challenge is choosing how many minutes Messi should play while balancing the star forward’s upcoming obligations. After Thursday, Inter Miami will look ahead to MLS commitments, and soon after, the Argentine national team will expect Messi for World Cup qualifiers.
In the meantime, Cavalier’s head coach, Rudolph Speid, acknowledged his opponent’s formidable talent. “Jordi Alba is 35 years old but he runs up and down like he thinks he is 25,” Speid told the Jamaican Gleaner. “Sergio Busquets is a brilliant player, it is very difficult to take the ball off him when he has it under control. And Lionel Messi, I don’t even have to say anything.”
Still, Cavalier intends to chase a comeback on home turf, even with concerns about the field’s condition. Some have joked about how messy it might be, recalling other stadiums‘ poor surfaces that Messi has navigated before. Inter Miami insists they can’t afford complacency despite any bumps or bare patches. If they seal a result, they’ll move on to face LAFC in the quarterfinals, where Messi and his teammates hope to lift another trophy for the Florida club.
