‘Luis Suarez without Lionel Messi is less of a player!’ - Inter Miami warning sounded as MLS Cup hopefuls prepare to lose Argentine icon to Copa America

The Herons have been able to get their most talismanic performers into Tata Martino’s starting XI on a regular basis this season, allowing a standing to be taken up at the top of the Eastern Conference. They have, however, also seen their ranks depleted by untimely injuries.

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Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi picked up a hamstring problem early in the campaign, while the all-time great is now nursing a knee complaint. He was forced to sit out a 0-0 draw with Florida rivals Orlando City as a result – a team that Inter Miami thumped 5-0 when everybody was available back in March.

Sacha Kljestan has told MLS Wrap-Up of the problems that Inter Miami encounter when unable to select from their full pool of attacking talent: “There’s a lot of injuries, and we saw the team just without Messi is a slightly different team. I think Suarez is still a fantastic player, but Suarez without Messi is also less of a player.”

Suarez is the joint-leading goal scorer in MLS this season, with 11 efforts to his name, while Messi is into double figures and very much in the Golden Boot race. Martino is hoping to be back at full strength when the Herons play host to D.C. United on Saturday, but knows that Messi will be heading off on Copa America duty with his country in June.