09 August 2023 , 17:16
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Lionel Messi will have to wait to make his MLS debut due to Inter Miami's commitments in the Leagues Cup as their run in the competition gathers pace.
The Argentine icon has made an impressive start to life with the Herons following his move to America, with his seven goals having sparked the club's run to the Leagues Cup quarter-finals. The 36-year-old could even get his hands on his first piece of silverware for the Floridan franchise by the end of this month if they continue their winning streak.
So far, all of the World Cup winner's four appearances have come in the tournament and he is yet to make his bow for the club in MLS, with his first appearance in the league having been slated to take place on August 20. However, their fixture versus Charlotte FC has been postponed due to their Leagues Cup commitments.
The two teams will meet in the last eight of the Leagues Cup on August 12, meaning that one of the two clubs will be guaranteed to play in either the final or third-place playoff. These two showpiece games are set to take place on August 19, a day before the previously arranged MLS fixture between Inter Miami and Charlotte FC.
The turnaround would have been too brief for the two teams in question - leaving organisers with no option but to postpone the MLS game until a later date. A statement confirming the decision on the Inter Miami website read: "Major League Soccer (MLS) announced today that Inter Miami CF's MLS match against Charlotte FC originally scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 20 at DRV PNK Stadium has been postponed to a later date to be announced.
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"As both Inter Miami CF and Charlotte FC have advanced to the 2023 Leagues Cup quarterfinals, one of the two clubs will be playing on Aug. 19 in either the Leagues Cup final or third-place match. Tickets originally purchased for the Aug. 20 MLS match will be honored for the new date in which the game will be played."
Strangely, this set of circumstances will mean that the seven-time Ballon d'Or holder could win the 44th trophy of his career with the Herons before he has even made his league bow for the club.
With seven strikes in his four appearances so far for his new club, it is clear that Messi has settled in quickly at the South Beach outfit. The superstar has provided a brace in each of his previous three games, with his appearances having drawn capacity crowds that have included A-List celebrities and sporting icons.
Lionel Messi has made a strong start to life at Inter Miami with seven goals already (Getty)The former Barcelona hero has very much been the star of the show, however, with his last-minute winner on his debut versus Mexican side Cruz Azul having served as a taster of what was to come. In the games which have followed, the megastar has dragged his team over the line to give them a major shot at winning the club's first-ever trophy.
During his most recent outing for Vice City, the Argentina captain notched two goals, including yet another dramatic strike in the form of an 85-minute equalizer to force penalties. The game versus FC Dallas eventually finished 4-4, with the Herons having taken the momentum into the shootout, which they won 5-3.
Despite the team's recent swashbuckling run in the Leagues Cup, Messi has his work cut out for him in MLS as Miami are rock bottom of the Eastern Conference after 22 rounds. They are currently 12 points off Wayne Rooney's D.C. United, who occupy the final playoffs place.