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Lionel Messi to miss Inter Miami’s MLS season-opening matches because of FIFA rest rules, impacting games against Chicago Fire, CF Montreal and Columbus Crew.
Lionel Messi at the end of the FIFA World Cup final (Picture credit: AP)
Argentine legend Lionel Messi will not be available for a few season-opening games for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, with FIFA rules stating that a player needs to have at least three weeks of rest at the end of the season. Messi is all set to start his vacation this week and can’t return to training before August 10.
Inter Miami return to MLS action this week, hosting the Chicago Fire on July 22 before travelling to face CF Montreal on July 25. They then take on the Columbus Crew on August 1, followed by Leagues Cup games against San Luis on August 5 and Monterrey on August 8.
Messi could miss all these games for the MLS team, as he can’t rejoin for at least 21 days since playing the final match at the FIFA World Cup.
“There is a consensus that there must be at least 72 hours of rest between matches and that players should have a rest period/holiday of at least 21 days at the end of each season,” the FIFA rules say.
Messi is also all set to miss the MLS All-Star Game once again. While his absence resulted in a one-game suspension last year, he will avoid any disciplinary action this time as the decision to sit out wasn’t his own.
Some thought that joining MLS in 2023 would cause Messi to lose his edge as he approaches 40. Those doubters were wrong.
In the FIFA World Cup final, Messi delivered a corner with just four minutes remaining and the ball took a fortunate bounce towards substitute Giuliano Simeone. But the latter blazed his effort over the crossbar before clutching his head in disbelief at the missed chance.
“When you have Messi on the other side, well, you are nervous. At the end of the day, we always depended on ourselves. We always come up with our football and we showed it again,” Spain’s Ferran Torres said after the match.
Lionel Messi will miss Inter Miami’s early season matches due to FIFA rest rules, impacting games against Chicago Fire, CF Montreal, and Columbus Crew. He needs at least three weeks of rest after the FIFA World Cup final and cannot return to training before August 10.
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