Getty Images SportLionel Messi set to travel to Jamaica for Inter Miami's Leg 2 CONCACAF Champions Cup match with Cavalier SC
WHAT HAPPENED?
Inter Miami have confirmed that Lionel Messi is fit and traveling with the squad to Kingston, Jamaica for their CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Cavalier SC Thursday evening. The Argentine has not featured for three-straight matches due to "load management," but was recently named to the bench against Charlotte FC on MLS Matchday 3. However, he went as an unused substitute in the clash.
His last appearance for the South Beach MLS side came on Tuesday, Feb. 25 in the Champions Cup against Sporting Kansas City.
"Leo Messi is on the roster and will travel with the team to Jamaica," manager Javier Mascherano told the media on Wednesday after the club's training session. "Tomorrow we will decide for the game what is best, if he starts or waits on the bench and comes in later.
"Today he trained with the team, and the sensations were good. We're happy he'll travel with us to Jamaica."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Herons will travel to the island nation on Wednesday to follow CONCACAF protocol by being on location 24 hours prior to kickoff
Miami heads into leg two of their match against the Jamaican side with a 2-0 advantage after taking leg one in Fort Lauderdale.
"We know that tomorrow we are going to play a tough game for us. It's a game that is very important, not just for this week but for the season because we had the chance to through to quarterfinals," said Mascherano. "At the end, obviously we prefer if the field is good, better for us for the way that we play. But anyway, we have to play in the condition that the field is."
DID YOU KNOW?
Defender Maxi Falcon will also be a member of their traveling squad after he missed Sunday's match against Charlotte due to a lower-leg injury sustained in leg one against Cavalier.
WHAT NEXT FOR MIAMI?
The Herons take on Cavalier in Kingston on Thursday evening, with kickoff slated for 8 p.m. ET. The overall winner across two legs advances to the quarterfinals, where they will take on LAFC for a berth in the semifinals across two legs.
