As happens to most MLS cities, there is joy among the fans in Houston to see Inter Miami Global Superstar Lionel Messi when he comes to town.
However, according to several media reports on Saturday, the Argentine superstar did not make the trip with Inter Miami to meet Dynamo on Sunday evening.
A sales mass of 22,000 expected to see the Argentine superstar, who has two goals and two assists in three matches this season, which includes Miami’s two wins over Sporting KC in the opening round of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Per en ESPN report on Saturday is not damaged and is expected to play Thursday in Inter Miamis Concacaf Champions Cup First-Ben Match against the Jamaican side Cavalier FC in Fort Lauderdale, FLA.
Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets left all Tuesday night’s second leg matchup in the 69th minute. But first-year-old Miami coach Javier Mascherano said the move was intentional to get his veteran stars rest under a busy schedule with the club’s participation in several competitions.
“Leo is good. He’s ok. He will train normally like the rest of his teammates,” Mascherano told reporters on Friday.
Both troops are looking for their first MLS season victory when Inter Miami (0-0-1, 1 point) and NYCFC played for a 2-2 draw on February 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 fine.
The Houston defender Franco Escobar and striker Ezequiel Ponce, who comes from Messi’s hometown of Rosario in Argentina and also played for Messi’s hometown club, Newell’s old boys, looked forward to playing against his country’s legendary players.
Escobar even has a tattoo of Messi who kisses the World Cup trophy on his right thighs.
“It will be something very beautiful for me who 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 show up that Messi would not play Sunday. “It’s something very beautiful that doesn’t happen every day, and it will be a very beautiful game and a very beautiful memory for me and for all of us.”
-Field level media
