Lionel Messi is not injured but is still limited in playing.

On the morning of March 7, Inter Miami hosted Cavalier SC at home in the first leg of the round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup this season. Just before the match, Messi surprisingly did not appear in the Inter Miami squad even though the club’s medical team had not previously announced that the Argentine superstar was injured.

According to Miami Hearld , Messi did not participate in the match against Cavalier because Inter Miami wanted to preserve the superstar’s fitness. Messi, at 37 years old, could face muscle overload if he plays continuously. Coach Mascherano did not want to take risks with the team’s number one pillar.

However, this decision is still controversial because on March 3, Messi was absent when Inter Miami defeated Houston Dynamo 4-1 in the second round of MLS 2025. Messi’s absence caused Inter Miami and rival clubs to suffer financial and reputational losses, as many fans only came to the stadium hoping to see Leo play.

Ticket prices for matches where Messi is likely to play in MLS or the North and Central American region are often pushed to sky-high prices because of his great appeal. Although Messi is not injured, Inter Miami’s continuous rest of the Argentine superstar has made many fans who buy tickets to the stadium upset.

Before the match against Cavalier, coach Mascherano had left open the possibility of Messi returning after missing the match against Houston Dynamo in MLS. Mascherano said: “He is still training regularly, his health is stable. We will consider what is best. His chance to play is the same as his other teammates.”