Lionel Messi Prepares To Return To Inter Miami In Jamaica

JAKARTA - Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano confirmed that Lionel Messi will participate on the team's trip to Jamaica to face Cavalier FC in the second leg of the Champions Cup Concaf last 16, Friday, March 14, 2025, at 07.00 WIB, at Independence Park, Kingston.

Messi missed the previous three Inter Miami games because of what Mascherano described as load management.

"Leo Messi is on the cast list and will participate on the team's trip to Jamaica," Mascherano told the media on Thursday, March 13, 2025.

"We will decide what is best for this match, whether he will play as a starter or wait on the bench and will only play later."

"Today he trained with the team and the sensation is good. We are happy he will come with us to Jamaica."

The team departed on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, to follow the Concacaf protocol and be at the location of the match 24 hours before the match starts.

In a bid to avoid future injuries, Mascherano has not included Messi on the cast list for the match against Houston Dynamo and Cavalier FC alias since early March 2025.

Mascherano also left Messi on the bench during the match against Charlotte FC on Monday, March 10, 2025.

The Argentine stressed on several occasions that Messi was not injured at the start of the season.

However, he only chose to rest the player to minimize risks after starting the 2025 season with three games in the seven-day range.

Inter Miami will now prepare to face Cavalier in the second leg with most of the players available, seeing defender Maxi Falcon's return after he missed the game against Charlotte with a leg injury during the Concaf Champions Cup match.

Inter Miami entered the second leg with a 2-0 lead over Cavalier after winning their first game at Chase Stadium last week.

Mascherano stressed that he did not underestimate even though he dismissed concerns about field conditions in the Jamaican capital.

"We know that we will be playing a difficult game for us. It is a very important match, not only for this week, but also for this season because we have the opportunity to qualify for the quarter-finals."

"In the end, obviously we prefer if the pitch is good, it's better for us because of the way we play. However, however, we have to play in such conditions," said Mascherano.

If Inter Miami wins in Jamaica, the team will face MLS LAFC in the quarter-finals of the Concacaf Champions Cup.