Fans Upset as Lionel Messi Misses Inter Miami vs. Houston

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami remain one of the hottest tickets in world football.

When it was revealed that Messi would miss Sunday’s matchup against the Houston Dynamo, fans who bought tickets were left disappointed that they wouldn’t get to see the Argentinian in action.

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano explained that the decision to leave Messi out of the lineup was due to load management, not injury. The Flordia club is set to play four games in 11 days, which includes a two-legged CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 tie against Jamaican side Cavalier.

The decision upset fans who bought tickets at inflated prices to see the world’s greatest-ever player. It even prompted an official response from the Houston Dynamo, saying: “Unfortunately, we have no control over who plays for our opponent.”

“We look forward to hosting everyone tomorrow for what will be an incredible atmosphere and celebration of soccer for the city of Houston. To show our appreciation, fans who attend the match can claim a complimentary ticket to a future Dynamo match this season. Additional details will be provided early next week,” the statement read.

The Dynamo are just the latest team to experience the fan anguish of not seeing Messi. A similar situation happened with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2024, where the club sold tickets at inflated prices, touting the ability to see Messi in person. However, when Messi didn’t appear, fans were left angry and even brought forward lawsuits against the Whitecaps.

On Sunday, Inter Miami proved they didn’t need Messi to get a result, as they easily dispatched the Dynamo 4-1. Goals from Telasco Segovia, Tadeo Allende, and Luis Suarez saw them claim three points. Nicolas Lodeiro scored a consolation for Houston with five minutes left to play.

Inter Miami’s next match is the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 against Cavalier on Thursday, March 6th.