Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi is still a doubt for Inter Miami, just days ahead of the US Cup final on Wednesday. Herons coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino admitted as much after his team tied 1-1 with Orlando City on Sunday. The Rosario-born star has been struggling with injury since asked to be subbed off in Argentina’s clash with Ecuador on September 7.

“There is no percentage of certainty if Messi will be available for the final,” Martino told the press after the game.

Inter Miami is set to play the US Cup decider against Houston Dynamo, but Messi could miss it due to his injury. He asked to be taken off 36 minutes into the first half of his return to action with the Herons last Wednesday, after experiencing discomfort in his right hamstring.

“We’re working on a day-to-day basis,” added Martino. “I’ll let him tell me if he feels ready to play. We’ll take the necessary time to try not making the wrong move.”

Despite having his professional debut nearly 20 years ago, in October 2004, Messi has had a relatively injury-free career. As per specialized site Transfermarkt, the Argentine forward has never missed more than three months due to injury. He broke a metatarsal in November 2006 and has rarely missed more than a couple of games per season since.

Two factors are working in conjunction against the World Cup winner now. First, the high physical demands — when he was first subbed off with Argentina in early September, Messi was playing his 22nd game in 48 days. This is due to him missing a large chunk of the European off-season after leaving PSG and joining the ongoing MLS season with Inter Miami.

Plus, at 36 years old, Messi carries the tear and wear of a footballing career spanning over 1000 games with FC Barcelona, PSG, the Argentina national team, and now Inter Miami. “It probably won’t be the last time I leave the game before the final whistle,” the Argentine star said about his early exit against Ecuador.

The situation casts doubts over the possibility of being part of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup squad, something Messi himself has claimed to be “far away.”

Inter Miami still holds plenty of cards

Closer to the present day, Inter Miami certainly missed Messi in its clash with Orlando City. Martino’s team took an early lead thanks to Honduran midfielder David Ruiz, who tapped in the rebound from a Josef Martínez shot in the 7th minute of the second half. Just 14 minutes later, Orlando striker Duncan McGuire scored for the final 1-1 result.

It ended up being a missed opportunity for Inter Miami to claim some much-needed points against a top rival, with Orlando sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference standings. 

It was the first clash between Inter and Orlando since their face-off in the Leagues Cup, another chapter in the Clásico del Sol budding rivalry. Martino, however, was somewhat dismissive: “It’s hard for me to call it a derby ‘cause I come from a place where rivalries are different, like the one we have in [his hometown] Rosario.”

Still, the Herons hold most of the cards in their late bid for a playoff spot. The team is in 14th place with 32 points, six points away from New York City FC who occupy the last Wild Card round qualification spot. However, Inter Miami have some advantage, as they have two games played less than NYCFC.

“I’m satisfied because we put in a massive effort,” said Martino. “The only thing I asked the boys was to think about getting that playoff spot against Orlando. It was a massive game for us in that regard.”