Houston Dynamo issued an apology after Lionel Messi was not included in the Inter Miami squad for their MLS fixture on Sunday evening.
The Texas-based club have also offered free tickets to a future game to all in attendance due to Messi’s absence.
Dynamo indicated that they believed Messi would be fit to play the match based on his name not being listed on Inter Miami’s player status report.
The player status report, released before matches, is traditionally where teams will list players that are carrying injuries or who are otherwise out of action.
“The recently shared player status report for the match did not include forward Lionel Messi, but it has been reported he did not make the trip to Houston,” the team statement read.
“Unfortunately, we have no control over who plays for our opponent.”
— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) March 2, 2025
According to the Miami Herald, Messi is not injured for the game in Texas but is being rested by manager Javier Mascherano.
Over the past two weeks, the team has played both midweek and on the weekend due to their involvement in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Miami advanced past Sporting KC over two legs and now hosts Jamaican side Cavalier FC this week in the first leg of the Round of 16.
Messi was substituted in the second half of Miami’s second leg against Kansas City, but on Friday, Mascherano assured reporters that he was healthy and would train as usual with the team that day.
The Argentine superstar scored in both legs against Kansas City, while he also provided two assists in Miami’s MLS opener against New York City.
