Lionel Messi stance on artificial turf as Inter Miami given decision to make

08 September 2023 , 19:09

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The debate over whether Lionel Messi will play on an artificial surface in MLS could come to a head (Image: Getty Images)

Inter Miami face a decision over whether to field talisman Lionel Messi on artificial grass, despite the forward insisting he has no qualms about playing.

The Herons are set to play two games on a synthetic surface during the run-in to the MLS regular season as they chase a playoffs place. The issue will likely come to a head ahead of the team's trip to face Atlanta United on September 16, the first of two upcoming games on turf for Miami.

Superstars including Thierry Henry and David Beckham previously expressed their displeasure at playing on turf during their own spells in the US. Going further, Zlatan Ibrahimovic even said he would only play on artificial surfaces for LA Galaxy if it was a matter of "life or death".

As a result, debate has raged over whether Messi will take a similar stance following his move stateside. One reason for optimism for supporters hoping to catch a glimpse of the forward in the flesh at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is that he has allayed fears over this issue in the past.

Speaking on the subject at a press conference previously, the seven-time Ballon d'Or victor admitted: "The truth is my youth was spent on artificial turf, my whole life was on that pitch. It’s been a while since I’ve played on artificial turf, but I have no problem adapting myself again."

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Of course, this debate could well ebb away in the next month due to the fact that the Vice City talisman may need to be rested anyway. After all, Miami's match versus Atlanta United comes just four days after Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Bolivia on September 12.

As captain of his country, it is a fair assumption to suggest that he will play some part in the match, which may lead his club manager to leave him out for their match versus Atlanta. The 37-year-old will already miss the Herons' game against Sporting Kansas City, which takes place during the international break.

Gerardo Martino has admitted that he has to convince Lionel Messi to sit out of matches (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

It is worth noting that the former Barcelona hero already hinted at some fatigue following Argentina's 1-0 win over Ecuador. Messi was withdrawn by head coach Lionel Scaloni after scoring what turned out to be the winner and admitted he felt fatigued during the match.

He said: "We know that these are difficult matches in the qualification. Ecuador have very good players, they know what they are doing and they are very good physically. It was a very tough match, very physical, I was a bit tired so they replaced me but I felt good."

His club manager Gerardo Martino has already admitted that it is a difficult task telling his captain that he will be rested for games. Offering some insight into the megastar's mindset, the Vice City boss explained that it is not an easy task to talk his star man into sitting out for games.

Martino said: "His whole career, he always wants to play every game. Sometimes you have to convince him to stop, so that he can recover and be fit for other games. External factors are not things I take into account for whether he plays or not."

Tom Beattie