Preview: Messi-less Inter Miami host Cincinnati
Inter Miami face FC Cincinnati for the second time in three games having lost the previous meeting 3-0 in Ohio.
By James Nalton
Ahead of this latest encounter back in Florida, there was uncertainty and controversy surround Lionel Messi’s availability following his no show at the MLS All Star game.
Lionel Messi All-Star saga
Messi was called up for the MLS All-Star team which faced off against counterparts from Mexico’s Liga MX in Austin, Texas, last weekend, but the Inter Miami star and reigning MLS MVP failed to show.
MLS rules state that any players called up for the All-Star game who then don’t show up will miss the next league game as a punishment.
This rule obviously doesn’t apply if the player in question is injured, but Messi played the full 90 minutes in Inter Miami’s last league game, against New York Red Bulls, and there has been no indication that he is carrying a knock.
Head coach Javier Mascherano said fatigue was the reason for Messi missing out on the All Star game, and MLS decided on Friday that Messi, and Jordi Alba, who was also absent having been selected, will indeed be suspended against Cincinnati.
Messi’s absence from the All-Star game was controversial in itself and led to questions being asked about the existence of such a mid-season exhibition match in the first place.
A one-game suspension for Messi seems far from ideal for MLS, but had he played in the All Star game and picked up an injury, it might have been much worse for the league.
Miami seek revenge
When these two teams met just over a week ago in Cincinnati, the home side inflicted Inter Miami’s only MLS defeat in their last eight games.
A convincing defeat it was too. As well as the three goals they scored, Cincy kept Inter Miami scoreless for only the third time in the 2025 MLS season.
Messi and co. bounced back with a 5-1 win against New York Red Bulls last weekend, and will now be looking to carry this momentum into this weekend and get revenge on the Ohio club.
Familiar threats
Evander’s two second-half goals in the recent meeting between these two turned Cincinnati’s win into a resounding victory.
The Brazilian, signed from Portland Timbers for an intra-league transfer record ahead of this season, is one of the players challenging Messi for the title of 2025 MLS MVP.
Standout performances in games against Messi’s club do his chances of competing for that individual honour no harm at all, and he’ll be looking to put on another show in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night.
Unlike Messi, though, Evander played in the All Star game, so despite having dealt with the travel to Auston and back, plus a 45 minute stint the game itself, will at least be available for the game against Inter Miami.
Prediction
With Messi, Inter Miami would have been favourites, but without him home advantage might be enough to get them a draw.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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