FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez participated in recovery workouts inside the team’s facility, but were not seen working out with teammates during a practice session open to media Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s home game against CF Montreal.
Messi, who was kicked in his legendary left leg but played to the end of Wednesday’s Champions Cup match in Nashville, is considered healthy after the injury scare and only came away with a leg bruise, Inter Miami assistant coach Javi Morales said Saturday.
Inter Miami had a day off Friday, and the entire team will be evaluated after Saturday’s training before a lineup is set for the Montreal game. It’s unclear whether Messi will play when Inter Miami hosts Montreal at Chase Stadium on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET, as Major League Soccer saves it best for last in its third week of the 2024 MLS season.
“Leo is a player that wants to play all the matches,” Morales said before practice. “I think it’s going to be a conversation with him to see how he feels, how he’s doing and decide what’s best for him because he’s been playing in all the matches 90 minutes. We’ll make the best decision ahead of [Sunday].”
How to watch Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal live stream
Inter Miami hosts CF Montreal at Chase Stadium on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET, and available to live stream via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
WATCH: Messi and Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal on Apple TV
TICKETS: See Messi and Inter Miami in person vs. CF Montreal
SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami gear from the MLS Store
Inter Miami vs. Montreal practice report
Messi and Suárez have accounted for six goals in the last two matches Inter Miami has played. Messi has also played the full 90 in each of Inter Miami’s four matches in 2024.
Inter Miami’s Sergio Busquets, Julian Gressel, Noah Allen, Federico Redondo, Diego Gomez and Nicolas Friere were seen working separately from the team, taking a jog around the practice fields to begin Saturday’s practice.
Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba, who missed the Nashville game with an illness, and Leo Campana, who missed the Nashville game woth a foot injury, practiced with other players who did not play in the Nashville game.
Messi scored a goal in the 52nd minute before going down briefly with his leg injury in the 77th minute. Suárez scored in the 95th minute to help Inter Miami settle to a 2-2 draw against Nashville SC in the first leg of their Champions Cup Round-of-16 matchup. The second leg is Wednesday night.
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