‘We will try’ – How will Inter Miami cope without Lionel Messi as Argentine icon prepares to leave MLS play-off bid for international duty?

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has been included in Argentina’s latest squad for 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia. He will not be available to Inter Miami as a result and will miss at least one game for his new MLS employers.

Messi will be unavailable for the meeting with Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, as Inter Miami seek to keep their play-off bid on track, but could be rushed back for the clash with Atlanta United on September 16 if he picks up no untimely knocks while away with the 2022 World Cup winners.

Tata Martino is the man charged with the task of concocting a winning formula without Messi in his ranks, with the Argentine coach ready to take on that challenge after seeing Inter Miami move to within eight points of a place in the MLS post-season. He has said of coping without Messi's talismanic presence: “We will try to put together the best performance possible against Kansas City. We’ll also hope that the players leaving come back healthy and well so that we can continue this stretch.”

Messi has registered 11 goals and five assists for Inter Miami through 11 appearances in all competitions, with those efforts helping to deliver Leagues Cup glory, a place in the U.S. Open Cup final and a shot at reaching the MLS play-offs.