On Wednesday, Lionel Messi wasn’t in Chicago with Inter Miami for a game against the Fire, missing his fifth match in the last six with the MLS club.
The Argentine star had been listed as doubtful on Inter Miami’s injury report because of a scar tissue disease that has nagged him since briefly after World Cup qualifying. He worked out independently on Tuesday of the team.
The Fire, who won the game 4-1, sold a team-record 61,000 tickets to the game at Soldier Field. After the appearance of Messi became doubtful, announced prospective season-ticket holders could take a $250 credit toward the next season, with single-game spectators qualified for a $50 credit if they determined not to attend.
The 36-year-old has 11 goals in 12 games with Inter Miami. It is 8-0-4 when he plays; seven of those games were on the team’s run to winning its first trophy by claiming the Leagues Cup championship and another was in the US Open Cup semifinal.
Inter Miami is 1-2-2 in its five games without Messi since he joined the club.