Messi's status in doubt as Inter Miami aims to seal Concacaf quarterfinal spot | OneFootball

Inter Miami CF is on their way to the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals after a 2-0 first-leg win over Cavalier FC. The team with Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and the crew will secure their qualification this Thursday in Jamaica, but there is one enormous question: Will Messi play?

The Argentine icon has been missing the last three games and did not put a foot on the pitch in Sunday's 1-0 win over Charlotte FC. Without him, Inter Miami has an intriguing question to ask: Do they really need Messi to defeat Cavalier, or do they already know that they can do it without him?

Whether or not the No. 10 plays, it will be no easy game. The Jamaican side doesn't have their big-name stars, but they've been dangerous to play, and having them at home, they'll come with the fighting spirit.

Inter Miami on the cusp of qualification, but can Cavalier pull off the upset?

Inter Miami made it work at Lockhart Stadium, downing Cavalier FC 2-0. But it did not come so easily. The Jamaicans narrowly missed taking an early lead in the first half, when Shaquille Stein found the net but saw his goal nullified after a check by the Video Assistant Referee for offside.

That was the chance that could have reversed everything. A goal away from home would have put Miami under more pressure. Instead, they stepped up their game in the second half, clinching the victory with Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez goals.

Now, with the upper hand in possession, the MLS team can control the game. But it doesn't have to be smooth sailing. Cavalier FC, which recently held Waterhouse FC to a 1-1 draw in local league play, has nothing to lose. With their supporters at National Stadium, Independence Park, they'll be coming to attack and try to mount a dramatic turnaround.

Inter Miami must stay focused to avoid any surprises. No team wants to see a comfortable lead slip away due to overconfidence.

Will Messi play? The big question ahead of the clash

Lionel Messi’s absence has been a major talking point in recent weeks. The Argentine star has been rested to avoid any serious injury concerns.

In the victory over Charlotte FC on Sunday, Messi was part of the team but did not feature. The question now is whether he will feature against Cavalier or not.

The answer remains a mystery. If Messi does not feature, Inter Miami will rely on Suárez, Busquets, and Jordi Alba to lead the team. Apart from that, Tadeo Allende has been on fire, scoring in four consecutive matches.

The team already proved they were able to be successful without their biggest of stars, but Messi always gets them the difference, either through technical superiority or psychological edge he imposes on his club against opposition.

And then what happens if Miami wins?

If Inter Miami qualify, they will have an even more challenging challenge in the quarterfinals. They will be facing one of the winners of the tie between LAFC and Columbus Crew, two of the strongest teams in MLS.

If Messi is available, then Inter Miami could be among the title favorites to win the Concacaf Champions Cup. But if he is out again, the team will have to keep showing that it is strong enough to win without its biggest star.