Inter Miami’s 2025 MLS Cup dreams face a fresh challenge as Lionel Messi sits out practice with back discomfort, casting a shadow over their playoff series against Nashville SC and drawing parallels to previous injury-marred seasons for the club’s talisman.
The air in Fort Lauderdale is thick with anticipation and a familiar unease as Inter Miami CF prepares for its 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs opener. Just three days before their crucial first match in the best-of-three series against Nashville SC, star forward Lionel Messi was notably absent from Tuesday’s training session, a development confirmed by USA TODAY Sports. The club announced that Messi missed practice due to minor back discomfort, reigniting concerns over his fitness just as the postseason intensity begins.
A Shadow Over Playoff Aspirations
This latest setback for the Argentine maestro comes at a critical juncture for Inter Miami, who enter the playoffs as the No. 3 seed. The first game of their series against No. 6 seed Nashville SC is scheduled for Friday, October 25, at Inter Miami’s home ground. Game 2 will be held in Nashville on Saturday, November 1, with a potential Game 3 back in Miami on Saturday, November 8. The availability of their most impactful player for these decisive matches is paramount, and coach Javier Mascherano is expected to provide an update on Messi’s status before the upcoming training session on Thursday, October 23.
The news is particularly disheartening given Messi’s sensational regular season. He concluded 2025 by clinching the MLS Golden Boot with an impressive 29 goals and tied for the league lead with 19 assists, accumulating an astounding 48 total goal contributions in MLS play. These remarkable statistics have positioned him as a strong contender for his second consecutive MLS MVP award, an achievement that would make him the first player in league history to win back-to-back MVPs.
A History of Injury Concerns and Playoff Heartbreak
Messi’s current back discomfort unfortunately echoes a pattern of injury struggles that have periodically affected his tenure with Inter Miami. In the 2023 season, for instance, a hamstring irritation stemming from old scar tissue sidelined him for several crucial matches. Then-head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino repeatedly described Messi as “day to day” and “feeling better and better,” refuting early reports of a hamstring tear. Despite these assurances, Messi’s absence coincided with Inter Miami’s desperate, ultimately unsuccessful, push for a playoff spot. They finished 13th in the Eastern Conference, four points below the playoff line, and were officially eliminated after a 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati, a match where Messi came off the bench but couldn’t turn the tide. This period also saw the team go winless in four matches without him.
The specter of postseason disappointment is not new for the Herons. In the 2024 season, under former coach Tata Martino, Inter Miami entered the playoffs as the No. 1 overall seed and even claimed the Supporters’ Shield champions title. Yet, they suffered one of the biggest upsets in MLS history, getting bounced in the first round by the No. 9-seed Atlanta United. This bitter experience fuels the team’s current drive, with defender Noah Allen emphasizing, “We definitely want to win for them. But in general, we just want to win for the pain of last year, I think everyone that was here last year remembers it, so it kinda stayed with us.”
A Season of Near Misses in 2025
The 2025 season, despite Messi’s individual brilliance, has also been marked by a series of agonizing near misses for Inter Miami in various competitions. They:
- Lost in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals to the Vancouver Whitecaps in April.
- Fell in the FIFA Club World Cup round of 16 against Paris Saint-Germain in June.
- Were defeated in the Leagues Cup final against the Seattle Sounders in August.
- Finished just one win and a point shy of the Philadelphia Union for the Supporters’ Shield.
These close calls highlight the team’s strong competitive spirit but also underscore the persistent challenge of converting stellar performances into silverware beyond their initial triumph. The team has made the MLS playoffs only twice in its five-year history, losing to New York City FC in 2022 and Atlanta United in 2024. The club is hungry for a deeper run, as Allen states, “This club has never advanced from one playoff game. So, this has to be the motivation in the team. Let’s build off one playoff game, and let’s move to the next round, and we go from there. Let’s make more history, and do something that the club has never achieved.”
The Nashville Rivalry: A Playoff Rematch
The choice of Nashville SC as Inter Miami’s first playoff opponent is particularly interesting. The two clubs have a competitive history, with Inter Miami holding a 7-4-5 (wins-losses-draws) record in their all-time series. Notably, Inter Miami secured their first-ever trophy, the 2023 Leagues Cup, by defeating Nashville in a thrilling penalty shootout. Just recently, in the 2025 regular-season finale on September 18, Inter Miami emerged victorious with a 5-2 win over Nashville, a game where Messi netted a hat-trick and provided an assist. Despite the dominant scoreline, Nashville proved their attacking threat by leading 2-1 at halftime, with goals from Sam Surridge (who finished tied for second in the Golden Boot race with 24 goals) and Jacob Shaffelburg.
This history suggests a challenging playoff series, where Inter Miami will need to be at their best, regardless of Messi’s fitness. The importance of winning two games to advance to the next round is keenly felt by the squad. Nashville’s ability to score quickly against Miami, as seen in their last encounter, demands a disciplined and robust defensive performance.
An Evolving Roster and Future Uncertainties
The 2025 playoffs also mark a bittersweet period for Inter Miami, as it will be the final matches for two foundational former Barcelona players: midfielder Sergio Busquets and left-back Jordi Alba, both of whom have announced their retirement at the end of the season. The club also faces uncertainty regarding the future of Luis Suarez, whose contract is set to expire. These departures signify a coming transition for the squad, emphasizing the importance of a strong playoff run to honor the departing legends and build momentum for the future.
The team has seen new additions, such as midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, who transferred from La Liga’s Atlético Madrid in late July. De Paul, a World Cup-winning teammate of Messi’s with Argentina, expressed confidence in the team, stating, “I have confidence in my team. We have the best of the best, and we’re really excited.” However, he acknowledged the unpredictable nature of soccer, adding, “In soccer, it’s not always the best team or the one that deserves it most that wins. So, we’ll try to minimize that element of luck as much as possible, and do everything we can, give everything we’ve got so that the league, the championship and the playoffs go our way.”
The upcoming playoff series against Nashville SC is more than just a battle for advancement; it’s a test of resilience, a nod to the club’s past struggles and triumphs, and a pivotal moment for a roster in transition. All eyes will be on Messi’s recovery and the team’s ability to overcome both internal challenges and formidable opponents in their pursuit of the coveted MLS Cup, building on their historic 2023 Leagues Cup win.
