According to a statement from rival team Vancouver, Messi and his teammates will most likely not play in round 15 of MLS.

The Vancouver Whitecaps have announced that Inter Miami CF stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets are not expected to participate in the match against them at BC Place. It is known that more than 50,000 fans in Vancouver (Canada) previously ordered tickets for this match to watch their idol Messi play firsthand.

To ease some of the disappointment of Vancouver fans, there will be a 50% discount on all food and drinks in the stadium. Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster said: “While we have not received official notification on whether Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets will be able to play this weekend, we understand that They will not join this trip.

We cannot control our opponents’ lineups, but we want to inform our fans as soon as possible.”

The absence of three former Barcelona stars from Inter Miami’s trip was not due to injury. According to sources from ESPN, both Messi, Suarez and Busquets are healthy and participated in the latest training session with the whole team.

The match on May 25 will mark the first time Inter Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps meet in MLS. The Whitecaps Club expressed regret at not being able to face the opponent’s best players, but is still committed to bringing a special experience to fans and sees this as an important home match. .

Whitecaps shared: “We always want our players to face the opponent’s best players. We understand that many fans will be disappointed, but we are committed to providing a memorable experience for everyone.

This match will still be a vibrant atmosphere and a football festival for the city. We have great fans, a quality team and the home match against Inter Miami is very important.”

This could be the 7th time Messi is absent this year due to a leg injury. However, there is speculation that another reason why Messi and other stars are not playing is the long distance from Miami to Vancouver. The direct flight is nearly 2,900 miles long and Inter Miami still has to return home to meet Atlanta United 3 days later.