Less than a month before the Crew’s game with Inter Miami in Cleveland, the status of Miami star forward Lionel Messi is in question.
In December, the Crew announced that this season’s home game against Miami on April 19 would be moved from Lower.com Field to Huntington Bank Field, the home of NFL’s Cleveland Browns nearly 150 miles away from Columbus. The Crew and Browns are owned by Dee and Jimmy Haslam.
The decision to move to the 67,000-plus venue was made due to the draw of Messi, but the 37-year old is recovering from a low-grade adductor injury that could keep him from playing in the game.
Against Atlanta United on March 16, Messi could be seen experiencing discomfort following his goal in the 20th minute, though he remained in the match until the end of regulation.
Messi’s injury kept him from the latest round of World Cup qualifiers with Argentina’s national team during latest FIFA international window from March 17-25, but is likely going to be available for Miami’s game against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
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Miami has two more MLS regular-season matchups after the Union matchup, in addition to a two-game Champions Cup series against Los Angeles FC in the quarterfinals, before heading to Cleveland.
The Crew-Miami kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. April 19.
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This story was updated to add a video.
