Messi will be on roster for Inter Miami home finale vs. New England, but may not start

Supporters’ Shield? Check.

Top seed and home field advantage for the MLS playoffs? Check. Check.

Heading into the regular-season finale against the New England Revolution Saturday, Inter Miami has already established itself as the team to beat in the MLS Cup race.

But there is one regular-season prize still up for grabs: the MLS points record. Miami, which has 71 points, can break the mark with a win at home against the Revolution, which happens to hold the record at 73 points.

While that would be a nice cherry atop a spectacular season, it is not worth risking injury to key players, said Inter Miami coach Tata Martino.

“It is an important game because we have been setting goals all season and this is one that was not in our plans from the start, but now that it’s within reach, we will try to achieve it,” Martino said. “But, of course, our main focus is on next Friday [the start of the playoffs]. So, with that in mind, we will analyze how much we want to play the players who just returned from their national teams, which includes Leo [Messi].”

Messi returned home on Wednesday from national team duty with Argentina after a hat trick and two assists in a 6-0 win over Bolivia in Buenos Aires. The 37-year-old Inter Miami captain said on Thursday that he is feeling healthy, strong and motivated to lead Miami to its first MLS Cup. He has 17 goals and 15 assists in 18 games for Miami this season, and is a finalist for league MVP.

Martino confirmed that Messi will be on the game roster Saturday but said he had not yet decided whether he would start or come off the bench.

“On the 20th of January, it would have seemed illogical to talk about aiming for the points record; but now it’s within reach, we would like to get it,” Martino said. “However, we are not to do anything crazy because six days later we start the most important games. That’s where I must be careful [managing players’ minutes].”

Other players who return this week from national team duty are Diego Gomez (Paraguay), Leo Campana (Ecuador) and Benja Cremaschi (U.S. Under 20).

As for the latest injury update, center back David Martinez returned to training two weeks ago after a groin injury and is ready to play, Martino said. Midfielder David Ruiz was ruled out with a right hamstring strain.

The game is being billed as Fan Appreciation Night and there will be a Supporters’ Shield ceremony on the field immediately after the game with speeches from club executives and an opportunity for fans to get photos of the team with the award.

Luis Suarez, also in the running for MVP with 18 goals and seven assists, said the team is highly motivated to make history with its first MLS Cup. He also said he would like to return for another year and is in contract talks with the club for an extension to his contract, which expires in December.

New England, meanwhile, is motivated by the chance to spoil Miami’s party and prevent the much-hyped men in pink from breaking the Revolution’s record.

“We are going to be a part of history one way or another,” Revolution coach Caleb Porter said on Tuesday. “We are going to be a part of their history winning the highest point total in a season, or we are going to stop that from happening, which is what our goal is. Obviously, it won’t be easy, but we owe it to the 2021 team that set that record to do everything we can to not let that record be taken.”

New England (9-20-4) has the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference and is not in playoff contention. The Revolution has just one win in its past nine games and is coming off a 4-0 loss to the defending MLS champion Columbus Crew.

How to Watch

Inter Miami vs. New England Revolution kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The game will be shown on Apple TV. Tickets are starting at $130 on TicketMaster.