Will Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami against Orlando City today?

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Inter Miami face Orlando City in an important MLS match at Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, on Sunday, August 10.

Both teams are vying for a higher spot in the Eastern Conference, with Miami currently 5th with 42 points and Orlando 6th with 41 points.

Miami remains strong, having recently won without Messi, with key players like Luis Suárez stepping up. This matchup is expected to be competitive as both teams aim to improve position heading into the final stretch of the MLS season.

But ahead of the match, Miami are braced with an issue with their key man Lionel Messi, who got injured in their Leagues Cup match and has already missed one MLS match.

Will Lionel Messi play today against Orlando City?

Lionel Messi will not be playing in Inter Miami's upcoming MLS match against Orlando City due to a minor muscle injury in his right leg. This injury was sustained during the Leagues Cup match against Necaxa. Although Messi is reportedly "fine," the coaching staff, led by Javier Mascherano, decided it would be unwise to risk playing him given important fixtures ahead, including the Leagues Cup quarterfinals on August 20.

There is no specific date for Messi's return yet, but the team staff remain hopeful that he will be back soon after missing the Orlando City match and other upcoming games. Messi has helped Miami with 24 goals across all competitions, including 18 goals in 18 MLS matches, and was in a rich scoring form before his injury.

Inter Miami recently won their last Leagues Cup match without Messi and will aim for another positive result against Orlando City. Currently, they stand 5th in the Eastern Conference, trailing the leaders by nine points. The decision to rest Messi emphasizes caution and a focus on ensuring his full fitness for crucial upcoming challenges. The Argentina international has played a key role for the MLS outfit this season.