All eyes are on Lionel Messi as Inter Miami travel to Los Angeles to take on LAFC in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals.
The start of Messi's 2025 campaign with the Herons has been marred by injury and fitness concerns. The 37-year-old already missed three of Inter Miami's nine matches across all competitions this season, and has only played a full 90 minutes three times.
Messi most recently suffered a minor muscle injury in the adductor area that prevented him from representing Argentina during the international break. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner returned in Inter Miami's 2–1 victory over Philadelphia Union at the weekend, though, and scored the winner for his side in just two minutes on the pitch.
With less than four days between the MLS match and the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals, Inter Miami are undoubtedly proceeding with caution when it comes to their captain.






