Lionel Messi did not make the trip for Inter Miami's match against Houston on Sunday. The reasons for his absence are outlined below.

Bad news for Lionel Messi fans in Houston: The Argentine captain did not travel with his Inter Miami teammates for Sunday’s game against the Houston Dynamo. According to a club source, Messi is not injured, but did not make the trip because of a coach’s decision to rest him due to the congested team schedule. He is expected to play at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday for Inter Miami’s Round of 16 Concacaf Champions Cup game against Jamaican team Cavalier SC.

Inter Miami's head coach, Javier Mascherano, stated following the Concacaf Champions Cup match against Sporting KC that the late substitutions of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets were deliberate, aimed at providing these players with some rest during what is anticipated to be a lengthy season filled with a demanding schedule. When questioned again on Friday morning regarding Messi's condition, Mascherano affirmed, "Leo is fine. He is OK. He will train normally alongside his teammates." Messi participated in training with the team on Friday, while Fafa Picault and Marcelo Weigandt were the only absentees, both recovering from leg muscle injuries. Yannick Bright returned to practice after recovering from a cut above his knee. Drake Callender, who sustained an adductor muscle injury during the preseason, attended practice, but his availability for Sunday’s match remains uncertain. Mascherano commented, "Drake has been training normally for a full week, and it all depends on how he feels. There isn’t much more to say. It’s the same situation. He has been training as usual for over two weeks, but he has indicated that he does not feel 100 percent. We will continue to communicate with him."

Oscar Ustari, a 38-year-old from Argentina, has stepped in as the starting goalkeeper during Callender's absence and has performed admirably. When asked about Lionel Messi's ability to maintain his current level of play amidst a year filled with the Champions Cup, MLS season, Club World Cup, and Leagues Cup, Mascherano responded thoughtfully. The two-legged Champions Cup Round of 16 is scheduled for March 6 at home against Jamaican club Cavalier FC, with the return leg in Jamaica on March 13. “Every situation and season presents its own unique challenges, and it is essential to consider the context,” Mascherano stated. “We recently participated in a knockout round, which left no opportunity for roster rotation. Our season commenced in Kansas, where the Champions League holds significant importance for us.”