Messi and Jordi Alba left out of Washington trip: Inter Miami faces DC United without its stars ahead of semifinal against Orlando City.

Inter Miami without its stars: Messi and Alba ruled out

Alarm bells rang in Miami. Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will not be playing in the match against DC United on Matchday 30 of the MLS. Their absence is worrying fans, but it also reflects Javier Mascherano's strategy, who is prioritizing the Leagues Cup semifinal against Orlando City.
At a press conference, the Argentine coach was emphatic:

“Leo will not be traveling. The idea is to take care of him because of the wear and tear of the trip and because the important thing is coming up on Wednesday.”

Thus, the Argentine star will miss his second consecutive game, generating uncertainty about his physical condition ahead of the match that could define the team's future in the season.

Jordi Alba also out due to injury

As if Messi's absence wasn't enough, Jordi Alba was also ruled out of the trip to Washington. The Spanish full-back suffered a knock in the match against Tigres and has not fully recovered.

Mascherano explained that the injury was minor, but the swelling persists:

“Jordi took a knock that, thank God, wasn't too serious. But it's best that he doesn't travel and recovers for what's coming up.”

The former Barcelona player thus joins the list of absentees, leaving Inter Miami without two key players for their visit to DC United.

Inter Miami: a demanding and resilient season

The coach also spoke about the club's 2025 campaign, highlighting the demands placed on the squad:

“We played 40 games, more than anyone else, and we're still competing. You can't fault this team's character.”

With Messi and Alba out, the immediate challenge will be to survive against DC United, but all eyes are already on what will happen on Wednesday at Chase Stadium.