MIAMI, Florida — Lionel Messi will not feature for Inter Miami in Saturday’s Major League Soccer match against CF Montréal, extending his absence after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
The Argentine captain was left out of Inter Miami’s traveling squad alongside teammate Rodrigo De Paul, marking the second consecutive MLS match both players have missed since returning from international duty. The pair also sat out Inter Miami’s recent 3-2 victory over the Chicago Fire, where veteran striker Luis Suárez scored twice to help the club recover from an early own goal.
Earlier on Saturday, Major League Soccer confirmed that Messi and De Paul had also withdrawn from next week’s MLS All-Star Game and related events in Charlotte. Their absence comes as both players take advantage of a 21-day post-World Cup rest period negotiated by FIFPRO, the global players’ union.
Under an agreement between MLS and the MLS Players Association, the two players will not face disciplinary action for missing the league’s annual showcase event, allowing them to complete their recovery before returning to competitive action.
While most MLS players who participated in the World Cup have already rejoined their clubs, Inter Miami has opted to give Messi and De Paul additional time off following Argentina’s demanding run to the tournament final.
Inter Miami will also be without several other players for the Montréal fixture. Tadeo Allende, David Ayala, Maxi Falcón and Gonzalo Luján remain sidelined through injury, while youngsters Santiago Morales and Alexander Shaw are away on international duty with the United States Under-20 national team at the Concacaf Championship, which serves as qualification for both the FIFA U-20 World Cup and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
In Messi’s absence, much of the attacking responsibility will again fall on 39-year-old Luis Suárez, who continues to produce impressive performances. The Uruguayan striker’s brace against Chicago increased his tally to eight goals and five assists in just 703 league minutes this season, while also bringing his overall record to 50 goals in 100 appearances for Inter Miami.
Suárez is expected to lead the attack alongside offseason signing Germán Berterame, who is still searching for greater consistency after arriving at the club. Midfielder Yannick Bright is also expected to start before departing to join the MLS All-Star squad as a replacement selection.
Despite missing several key players, Inter Miami remain firmly in contention near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The club sits second with 34 points from 16 matches, trailing league leaders Nashville SC by five points.
CF Montréal, meanwhile, enters the match struggling near the bottom of the conference. The Canadian side occupies 13th place in the Eastern Conference with just 15 points and will look to capitalize on Miami’s depleted squad as they attempt to improve their position in the standings.
Inter Miami is expected to welcome Messi and De Paul back sometime in August after the completion of their scheduled recovery period, with the club prioritizing the long-term fitness of two of its most influential players as the MLS season enters its decisive stages.
