Inter Miami will be without Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul for the club's next two MLS matches after Argentina's World Cup run, and the star duo is also expected to miss the MLS All-Star Game at the end of the month, the club has told the league.
Club notification and World Cup toll
Inter Miami has informed MLS that Messi and De Paul will not be available for Wednesday's home match against the Chicago Fire or Saturday's trip to CF Montréal, according to reporting from Field Level Media. The outlet also reports that the club told the league the two Argentina internationals will not take part in the MLS All-Star Game on July 29. Messi finished the tournament among the top scorers with eight goals, per Sky Sports.
Why the break
Clubs are leaning on newly emphasized player-welfare standards as they manage minutes after a long summer of international duty. FIFA and participating players' groups agreed on a framework that includes a minimum 72-hour gap between matches and a recommended 21-day rest period at the end of a season, guidance teams have cited while planning post-World Cup recovery. FIFA published the framework after talks last year.
Which matches are affected
The decision rules Messi and De Paul out of Inter Miami's home fixture against the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, July 22 and the road match at CF Montréal on Saturday, July 25. CF Montréal's official schedule lists the July 25 game at Stade Saputo, and ticket listings on Ticketmaster show the Chicago match set for July 22 at Nu Stadium.
What it means for Miami
Messi remains the league's biggest box-office attraction, so his absence will be felt at Nu Stadium turnstiles and in traveling-fan markets that had circled these dates on the calendar. The attention and ticket demand he generates have been widely documented, and local reporting has followed how his arrival reshaped matchday economics in South Florida. Coverage from the New York Post and earlier local pieces such as Messi Magic Finally Breaks offer more context on the local impact.
When he could be back
If Miami follows the roughly three-week recovery window that is being recommended, some outlets project Messi could be available again in mid-August, potentially around Aug. 12 for early Leagues Cup dates, although the club has not released an official medical timetable. Any return will depend on how the players respond in training and on the plan set by the club's medical staff. Yahoo Sports has outlined the possible timelines.
In the meantime, the Herons will lean on depth and rotation, while fans holding tickets for this week's matches are being urged to keep an eye on club communications for final lineups and matchday notes. The fixtures remain major events for Miami whether Messi is on the pitch or not, and the club says it will handle every step of his return with care.
