Imagine if Lionel Messi wasn't available for a game with Inter Miami CF in Montreal on May 11th… However, it's within the realm of possibility.
The situation is spreading across North America. Consumers appear willing to pay exorbitant prices to watch the famous Argentine play in Major League Soccer. What if there was an injury or even an accumulation of yellow cards?
• Also read: The last gold price tickets to see Lionel Messi in Montreal
“People who buy tickets for the game on May 11 are effectively taking the risk that Messi won’t play,” agreed Jonah Presser of the 1642MTL group. If that happened, I would understand their frustration. Basically, when it comes to a game at the Stade Saputo, everyone has to be there to support Montreal, but things will be different with Messi's presence.
In early February, Messi missed a friendly match between Inter Miami CF and a local club in Hong Kong, which was not without controversy. In particular, he was accused of wanting to make a political gesture.
Lionel Messi (left) and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami CF training on February 20 in Fort Lauderdale. “Photo Megan Briggs/Getty Images via AFP”
“As everyone knows, I always want to play and be part of every game,” Messi justified himself in a video published on social networks. If I didn’t want to play, I wouldn’t have made the trip to Hong Kong.”
- Listen to the interview Jonah Presser, communications director of the partisan group 1642MTL with Mario Dumont on QUB:
Disappointments come
A look at the Major League Soccer schedule shows Miami will visit Saputo Stadium on Saturday before traveling to Orlando to face this rival team on Wednesday, May 15. There is then talk of a “derby” between two clubs from Florida.
While it is premature to believe that Miami will use the stay in Montreal to rest their star, or that the Argentine will not necessarily play 90 minutes, the possibility is of course there.
Elsewhere in North America, tickets sell for $400, be it in Columbus, New York, Vancouver or elsewhere. On certain resale sites, amounts currently exceed $10,000 for a single ticket. However, Messi may not take part in Inter Miami's 34 regular season games. For the diehards there should at least be Luis Suarez or Sergio Busquets.