Lionel Messi's participation in Inter Miami's upcoming Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 match against Cavalier remains uncertain.

The 37-year-old star has been a key figure for Miami recently, scoring in both legs against Sporting Kansas City and starting in the Major League Soccer (MLS) opener against New York City FC. However, Messi was notably absent from Miami's squad during their trip to Houston last weekend.

Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami's coach, confirmed ahead of the Houston match that Messi was not injured and had been training with the team. His exclusion was a strategic decision for load management, as the coaching staff aims to carefully balance Messi's minutes early in the season. With a packed schedule, including the Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS fixtures, managing Messi's workload is crucial to maintaining his fitness and performance levels.

Will Lionel Messi play today against Cavalier SC?

Ahead of the Round of 16 clash with Cavalier, Mascherano reiterated that Messi is training with the team and remains injury-free. However, there is a possibility that Messi may not feature in the first leg, especially with an MLS match against Charlotte FC scheduled for the upcoming weekend.

Given Inter Miami's strong performance in the previous round, where they comfortably defeated an MLS opponent, the team is heavily favored to advance past Cavalier. This could lead to Messi being rested entirely or kept on the bench for the first leg.

The Argentine has so far played 3 matches this season and already has four goal contributions, with 2 goals and 2 assists to his name. Given Cavalier playing in Florida in this important match, Messi may well be handed an opportunity and if he does play, it could be in a limited capacity, such as a 45-minute appearance either as a starter or substitute.