Messi did not play in Inter Miami's last two matches against Houston Dynamo and Cavalier. In fact, he was not even in Javier Mascherano's squad for either game. Mascherano was always going to manage the minutes and workload of the 37-year-old superstar, but alarm bells are already sounding for Messi just two weeks into the Herons' season.

Lionel Messi could potentially return to action on Thursday night as Inter Miami faces Cavalier FC in the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup round-of-16 showdown. Messi’s game status is up in the air: He is listed as a substitute in Inter Miami's starting lineup,