Lionel Messi's availability versus Atlanta United on Wednesday unknown

Will Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player in soccer’s history, play when Atlanta United hosts Inter Miami on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium?

Inter Miami manager Gerardo Martino told journalists on Tuesday that Messi and Luis Suarez will travel to Atlanta but whether they will play will be determined after Tuesday’s session.

History shows its unlikely, but there are reasons he may.

Messi played for Miami and went 90 minutes in last weekend’s 3-1 win against Philadelphia. It was his first league match since June 1. Messi hadn’t played for Miami because he was playing for Argentina in Copa America. He suffered an ankle injury in the Copa final on July 14 that forced him to miss eight MLS matches.

Whether because of the decision of Martino, playing for Argentina or injury, Messi has played in just one mid-week league match this season, that a 3-1 loss to Atlanta United in Ft. Lauderdale on May 29. He missed the only Wednesday match prior to that, and he didn’t play in the team’s next three Wednesday matches, or in two Leagues Cup matches held on a Thursday and Tuesday because of the national team call-up and subsequent injury.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled to be open to full capacity on Wednesday. It will be the second time in two seasons that the stadium will be open in anticipation of Messi. He didn’t travel with the team for last season’s match, disappointing many who bought a ticket specifically to watch him.

Messi has scored 14 goals and has 14 assists in 13 league games so far this season.

Atlanta United has a couple of things working in its favor. First, Inter Miami is scheduled to play at Yankee Stadium and its small pitch on Saturday. Messi or Martino could choose to have him skip that match instead of Wednesday’s. Second, Inter Miami is atop the Supporters Shield race with 62 points, seven more than second-place L.A. Galaxy. Miami has played one less game than the Galaxy. It could all but clinch the honor with a win on Wednesday.

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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule

Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1

March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0

March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0

March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0

April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1

April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2

April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1

May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in U.S. Open Cup