Explained: ‘Extra precautions’ MLS rivals take with Lionel Messi around – with Inter Miami preparing to lose superstar captain to Copa America

World Cup winner Messi will be leading Argentina into another quest for continental glory, as they seek to successfully defend a crown that they captured back in 2021. With a domestic season in the United States well underway, the all-time great will have to desert his club employers in order to link up with his country.

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Messi will miss at least a handful of games if the Albiceleste go deep into Copa competition, leaving Inter Miami to fend for themselves. They have plenty of other potential match winners on their books, but do not carry the same kind of threat when their talismanic No.10 is not around.

Nicolas Freire – who has suffered a season-ending ACL injury – admits as much and has told TJ Sports of the Herons giving opposition hope when Messi is absent: “We always miss Leo when he’s not there. Not only do we miss him, but the opponents also feel it, they always take extra precautions when he’s on the field. The important thing is that’s he’s here.”

Messi has sat out games through injury this season, with Inter Miami dropping precious points along the way, but they have also shown that they can win when he is not at his best. That bodes well for Tata Martino and his troops as they prepare to part with a serious contender for MVP honours in 2024.