Charlotte FC is on a good run of form with a 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth on the line. They have cruised through their last two matches, a 3-0 home victory over Toronto and a 2-0 away victory against Chicago.
Now, just two matches remain: away at Inter Miami CF on Wednesday, October 18th and home against the same Miami side for Decision Day on Saturday, October 21st.
CLTFC are in control of the race. Two wins from those two matches would take the team to 8th place without any need for other results to fall their way, giving the Club a home Wild Card playoff match at Bank of America Stadium.
Messi, dressed casually in a white T-shirt, was in the Inter Miami bench area with his teammates for Wednesday's match after returning from Peru earlier in the day.
Messi told reporters in Peru that he wants to play once more for Inter Miami before his inaugural MLS season ends, which means he's intending to play in the away fixture against Charlotte FC on Saturday -- even though that match will be played on artificial turf.
Messi's schedule for the year will not end on Saturday in Charlotte. He is expected to take part in Argentina's World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil on Nov. 16 and Nov. 21, respectively, and could participate in Miami's two-game tour of China before that. The MLS team is set to play Qingdao Hainiu FC on Nov. 5 and Chengdu Rongcheng on Nov. 8.
Inter Miami was eliminated from MLS playoff contention earlier this month. Coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino said earlier this week that there was "a chance" Messi could play Saturday, and that the team would evaluate where he's at physically upon his return to Miami following the qualifying games with Argentina. "Tomorrow we'll talk with him, but the most important thing here is the 90 minutes that were played ... that he felt well, and he was confident and not worried about his injury," Martino said. "We'll talk again to see if he's ready to play again."
The hope of Messi playing has boosted ticket sales. Charlotte FC has sold more than 60,000 tickets in its 74,000-seat stadium for Saturday's match, The Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday.
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