Lionel Messi does not play in Inter Miami's loss to CF Montreal. Here's the latest update.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Joseph and Christina Perez sat on a bench outside Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium, each with a drink in hand, wondering how they missed Lionel Messi again.

They planned a spring-break trip from Houston so their 15-year-old son, A.J., could watch Messi play on Sunday, and paid $1,500 for Inter Miami tickets.

But before the game, they learned Messi would not play. Inter Miami rested the 2022 World Cup champion, who is dealing with a shin injury on his legendary left leg before Wednesday’s Concacaf Champions Cup match against Nashville SC.

“He’s like heartbroken,” Christina Perez, 43, said of her son.

“This is our second time we’ve come from Houston to see [Messi], and he hasn’t played,” Joseph Perez, 43, added, revealing they also missed Messi when he was injured for the U.S. Open final last September against Houston Dynamo.

At least they were able to watch an entertaining match: Inter Miami lost 3-2 to CF Montreal, while both sides traded two goals each from the 70th to 80th minutes.

“I think we should have won the game,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said. “We’re a team that’s not defending as hard as we should."

When will Lionel Messi play again?

Messi likely will return to the lineup when Inter Miami hosts Nashville SC in the second leg of their round-of-16 Concacaf Champions Cup matchup on Wednesday night.

Martino said the plan all along was for Messi to miss the Montreal game, even before he scored and finished last Thursday’s match against Nashville, which ended in a 2-2 draw, despite suffering the late injury to his shin.

“We talked about this about a week ago more or less we were in agreement [Messi] was going to sit this one out, no matter what happened in Nashville,” Martino said of Messi, who was listed as questionable before the match, and watched from the stands while sitting next to his wife.

Nashville SC also rests starters Sunday ahead of Champions Cup match vs. Inter Miami

It’s also important to note that Inter Miami wasn’t the only team to rest its stars on Sunday.

Nashville rested 10 of its starters for their 2-2 draw against L.A. Galaxy with standouts Shaq Moore, Hany Mukhtar, Tyler Boyd, Sam Surridge, and Jacob Shaffelburg (who scored two goals against Inter Miami) entering in the second half.  

Luis Suarez entered in the 77^th minute, while Sergio Busquets was also among five total substitutes for Inter Miami.

Leo Campana scored in the 71st minute, while Jordi Alba scored in the 80th minute. Both players did not play against Nashville in the first leg. Campana had a foot injury, while Alba had an illness.

Fernando Alvarez scored in the 13^th minute, Matías Cóccaro scored in the 75^th, and Sunusi Ibrahim scored in the 78^th for Montreal.

How did Messi get hurt against Nashville?

Messi was kicked in the calf area, causing his left ankle to twist when he challenged Nashville's Lukas MacNaughton, whose right leg landed on Messi. Here's a replay of the play:

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Messi’s upcoming schedule with Inter Miami and Argentina

Messi will join Argentina for two Copa America warm-ups later this month.

∎March 13: Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC, second leg Champions Cup Round of 16

∎March 16: Inter Miami visits D.C. United

∎March 22: Argentina vs. El Salvador in Philadelphia

∎March 26: Argentina vs. Costa Rica in Los Angeles

Messi could miss two Inter Miami games as a result: Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls on March 23, and Inter Miami vs. New York City FC on March 30.

Messi takes photo with fan wearing ice around injured shin

One Messi fan waited hours Saturday for a chance to meet his idol, and shared a photo after meeting the 2022 World Cup champion.

Messi had ice wrapped around his shin, where he absorbed the contact from a Nashville player.

The fan also shared a heartfelt message: THE GREATEST IN HISTORY. I have no words to describe you brother. The fact that you took 5 minutes to talk to me about life is not compared to anything in the world. Those who know me know what you mean to me. The best with the ball and even better as a person, without words 10 I love you with my life and never retire.

Messi and Suarez could see limited action vs. Montreal

Messi and Suarez have each accounted for three goals in their last two matches, so preserving them is paramount for Inter Miami’s run in the Champions Cup.

"We have to see how the players are, especially the ones who played the most minutes and then we will make a decision after practice (Saturday) and we will see who is healthy and ready to play Sunday," Inter Miami assistant coach Javi Morales said Saturday.

Morales added: "We all know Leo, he’s a player who wants to play every game. I think it will depend on a conversation with him to see how he is doing and to decide what is best for him. He has played all the games for 90 minutes, and we will make the best decision thinking of him."

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