Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the top choice in Inter Miami's playing lineup. However, it appears that the Argentine player will be allowed to skip some matches for the MLS team due to his preference of not playing on artificial turf fields.
After deciding to leave PSG at the end of the previous season, Messi turned down the opportunity to return to his former club Barcelona and even rejected lucrative offers from Saudi Arabian clubs. Instead, he chose to join Inter Miami in the United States.
This move paved the way for several of Messi's former Barcelona teammates, including Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, to follow him to Inter Miami. There have also been rumors about Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta potentially making a move to the club.
While most MLS fans are eager to witness the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner in action, some might feel disappointed with an issue in the agreement between Messi and Miami.
It's reported that Messi does not want to play on artificial turf fields. Currently, there are six MLS teams using this type of surface, including New England Revolution, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, Charlotte FC, Atlanta United, and Vancouver Whitecaps.
Inter Miami still has away matches against Charlotte and Atlanta this season, and considering both teams have giant stadiums, Messi's absence in these matches could be a significant commercial loss for the club.
Throughout his club career, Messi has played almost every match on natural grass fields, as La Liga and Ligue 1 both prohibit the use of artificial surfaces. Although these types of fields are allowed in the Champions League, UEFA does not use them for the final matches.
Messi is not the only player expressing concerns about artificial turf. Inter Miami's owner, former football star David Beckham, previously stated to the Globe and Mail of Canada: "As a professional athlete, you can't play football on that surface because of what it does to your body as a player. You'll feel it for three days after. Every game, every team should have natural grass. You can't expect any athlete to perform at a high level on FieldTurf."
Despite the majority favoring natural grass fields, there are several reasons why some clubs opt for artificial turf. In many cases, maintaining artificial fields is significantly cheaper and can save teams a lot of money. Additionally, artificial turf can be used in all weather conditions, reducing the risk of postponed matches.
