Soccer fans in New York can take solace in the knowledge that they'll have a chance to see Lionel Messi play at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.
How much he plays is another story.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino told reporters on Tuesday that Messi will be available for Wednesday's game against Atlanta United and the showdown with New York City FC in the Bronx.
However, Messi's participation will be conditional, and Martino added that the club will be careful not to overexpose him on the field and put their star player at risk of further injury.
Messi had been sidelined since July 14 after spraining his right ankle in the Cop America final, but only returned to Inter Miami's lineup for their 3-1 win over Philadelphia Union at the weekend.
“Leo is fine, he finished the game well, of course he's tired,” Martino said of Messi, who played 105 minutes last Saturday. According to ESPN:“It's been a while since he last played 90 minutes but it finished in a really good way. He'll travel for both games. He's available but we've got three games this week, including one away, so we'll have to take it day by day.”
Saturday will mark Messi's first appearance this season in an MLS match in the New York metropolitan area.
Inter Miami visited the Red Bull Arena earlier this year but the Argentine did not attend as he was with his national team.
NYCFC missed out on the opportunity to welcome Messi to their team when they travel to Miami last year, but this will be their first chance to enjoy some added exposure with one of the best players in soccer taking to the pitch at Yankee Stadium.
As of Tuesday night, the cheapest tickets to watch the afternoon game in the Bronx were listed at $162 on secondary ticket marketplace SeatGeek and $130 on Vivid Seats.
Messi played one of his first MLS matches in the Tri-State Area last August when Inter Miami faced the Red Bulls.
He didn't enter the game until the 60th minute, scaring some of the record 26,276 who bought tickets to the game at Red Bull Arena.
Messi scored a late goal to give the Red Bulls a 2-0 victory.
