Inter Miami have announced whether or not Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will feature for MLS All-Star week in the coming days.
The annual MLS event is just around the corner, with America and Canada’s biggest and best players this year taking on an All-Star Liga MX side having last year lost to Arsenal, with Messi, Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba all named in the initial squad.
Such events, though, bring along challenges for clubs, namely Inter Miami, who currently have Messi out injured with Suarez just returning from the Copa America with Uruguay, where the pair were away from Florida for well over a month.
And Inter Miami have now confirmed if the pair will feature in Columbus this week.
Messi and Suarez to miss MLS All-Star week
In an official statement from the Herons, Messi and Suarez will miss MLS All-Star week, with the Argentine out through injury as his Uruguayan teammate misses out through fatigue from the Copa America.
Inter Miami said: “Leo Messi will miss the All-Star Game due to an ankle injury, while Luis Suarez, who recently returned from international duty after over 40 days away from the club, will miss the All-Star Game due to knee discomfort. Their availability for Saturday’s League’s Cup match will be assessed based on their daily recovery process.”
Given the severity of Messi’s injury and how important Suarez is for Inter Miami, it’s perhaps no real surprise why the pair have been pulled out of MLS All-Star week by the Herons.
Indeed, the competition is viewed by some as a distraction from the regular season, something Inter Miami are intensely focused on, and the Florida franchise have made a good call in pulling Messi and Suarez out of the event.
Inter Miami should be applauded for their decision on Messi and Suarez
Inter Miami have been unfairly criticized this year for their treatment of Messi and Suarez, with the pair kept as fresh as possible despite some fury from rival fans and supporters wishing to see the duo play.
However, Inter Miami this week should be applauded for their decision to pull Messi and Suarez out of MLS All-Star week, an event that the forwards simply should not be playing in.
With the same question marks likely to be raised ahead of Leagues Cup, Inter Miami need to stand their ground on their key forwards, with Messi and Suarez simply too valuable to lose at this stage of the season.