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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Messi has sat out three successive games</li><li>Suarez has figured in all six for the Herons</li><li>One needs minutes, other cannot be risked</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n" rel="sponsored"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Why Luis Suarez is playing while Lionel Messi is rested – Inter Miami selection calls explained as ex-Barcelona superstars are treated differently in MLS

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Inter Miami CF

<p>Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-lionel-messi-missed-third-straight-game-inter-miami-mls-injury-risk/blt5ead5ceddbfdf7fe" target="_blank">Messi has sat out three successive fixtures for the Herons</a>. He was on the bench for their most recent MLS fixture, against Charlotte FC, but remained an unused substitute. The Argentine also played no part in a win over the Houston Dynamo or first leg of a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-injured-why-inter-miami-star-sat-out-concacaf-champions-cup-clash-cavalier-missed-mls-win-houston-dynamo/bltd88de3866981b69a" target="_blank">CONCACAF Champions Cup clash with Cavalier</a>.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72px; height: 40px;"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Stream games now</a></div>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Javier Mascherano has explained that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/out-for-month-risk-lionel-messi-rested-inter-miami-mls-no-gambles-argentine-superstar-fitness/bltb2ce3d3f284f1769" target="_blank">Messi is being held back in a bid to prevent burnout and potential injuries</a>. Veteran striker Suarez is, however, seeing plenty of action at 38 years of age and with questions having been asked for some time of <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/luis-suarez-belongs-wheelchair-lionel-messi-team-mates-arent-good-enough-inter-miami-mls-savaged-league-two-comparison-former-premier-league-chairman/blt2fcb4d6fdd181c00" target="_blank">how much longer his knees will hold up</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>While Inter Miami’s selection calls have left some puzzled, former Premier League star and current MLS pundit Danny Higginbotham says <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/best-partnership-football-history-lionel-messi-luis-suarez-post-incredible-stat-inter-miami-stars-mls-glory-2025/blt1adf4580a7954547" target="_blank">they are understandable</a>. The Manchester United academy graduate has told <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/season-pass/?utm_source=mlssoccer&amp;utm_medium=nav&amp;utm_campaign=mlssp " target="_blank"><em>Apple TV</em></a>: “It's two completely different players. I go back to my football career and I played with players, going to 36, 37 they could rest for a few weeks and come back fresh. </p><p>“I was a player, though, who had to play week in, week out. Because if I missed one game it took me three games to get back going again. And I look at Suarez like that. I think Suarez is the type of player, you just keep playing him. Because if you rest him, if you stop him, it's going to take him a long time to get back into the rhythm of things.”</p>

WHAT MLS PUNDIT SAID

<p>Suarez has figured in all six of Inter Miami’s competitive fixtures in 2025, scoring three goals. He is considered to be into the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-luis-suarez-backed-launch-new-mls-franchise-together-inter-miami-former-uruguay-star-reveals-ex-barcelona-striker-retire-2025/bltebf7001ebda663b1" target="_blank">final season of his glittering career</a>, but the prolific Uruguayan frontman is hoping to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/nba-nfl-watch-out-lionel-messi-set-second-biggest-sport-challenge-mls-luis-suarez-impact-inter-miami-united-states/blt0ee515098c8fbda1" target="_blank">savour MLS Cup glory alongside Messi</a> before giving any thought to retirement.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

Why Luis Suarez is playing while Lionel Messi is rested – Inter Miami selection calls explained as ex-Barcelona superstars are treated differently in MLS | Goal.com

Inter Miami’s decision to play Luis Suarez while resting Lionel Messi has been explained, with two ex-Barcelona stars being treated differently.

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