Inter Miami's head coach, Gerardo Martino, announced on Friday that his main focus is on the upcoming MLS playoffs, scheduled for next Friday. Martino emphasized that the decision regarding Lionel Messi's role in Saturday's match against the New England Revolution will largely depend on the preparation for this crucial stage of the tournament. 

"The match tomorrow is important because we have been setting goals; this was a target we hadn't considered at the beginning of the season, but now that it is so close, we will try to achieve it. Of course, our attention is on next Friday," said the coach at the press conference ahead of the last regular-season match.

Inter Miami is just one win away from setting a new points record in the MLS regular season, adding an extra layer of pressure and motivation for the team. "Based on that, we analyze what participation we can give to the players who returned from their national teams, including Leo," Martino added, highlighting the importance of each player in the pursuit of their collective goal. 

Messi has just rejoined after his time with Argentina, where he shone with a hat-trick against Bolivia in a 6-0 victory for "La Albiceleste," following a 1-1 draw against Venezuela in the 2026 World Cup qualifying round.