MONTERREY VS INTER MIAMI, CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP 2024 QUARTERFINAL, SECOND LEG: WILL LIONEL MESSI PLAY?

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami’s captain and star player, will play the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2024 quarterfinals against Monterry on Thursday at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico.

Messi, who scored and assisted in Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 encounter against Nashville on March 14, was substituted in the 50th minute. He missed multiple MLS matches, including the first leg versus Monterrey in Florida.

Miami head coach Tata Martino expects to have his captain and top player Messi available against DC United as he recovers from a leg injury.

Messi did not play in the opening leg of the home-and-home, total-goals series last week. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner returned from a hamstring injury that had kept him out since a Champions Cup encounter against Nashville on March 13 to play the second half of last Saturday’s Major League Soccer game in Colorado, scoring once in a 2-2 draw.

“He’s fine.” He felt well after playing 45 minutes last Saturday. “We still have today’s practice, but it appears the injury is behind him,” Miami coach Gerardo Martino said Tuesday. “That is the most essential thing. Never mind tomorrow’s contest. The season is just getting started for us, therefore we need healthy guys.”

Hundreds of Mexican supporters gathered early Tuesday morning outside Miami’s team hotel in San Pedro Garza, Monterrey’s upscale area.