Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will take on Sporting Kansas City on Saturday evening with the World Cup winner in the starting line-up for back-to-back matches. A unique match played at the home of Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs, the Argentine superstar now sees his team shift focus following Wednesday’s Concacaf Champions Cup elimination at the hands of Monterrey.
With their biggest potential trophy opportunity on the horizon, the club is now looking to boost their chances of qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs, although there is still a long way to go.
Messi has struggled with fatigue and injuries so far this season, a continuation of the end of last season. Before Saturday, he played in just four of Inter Miami’s eight MLS games. This is his first MLS match since April 6 and only his second since early March.
Inter Miami enters the match in third place in the Eastern Conference and has started the young season strong enough that expectations are clear to move into a playoff spot, but recent results have raised questions about whether the The club’s approach to recruitment will set them up for long-term success.
