Lionel Messi: Fans Offered Cash Incentive for Attending Inter Miami Game in Case Argentine Is Absent

• Lionel Messi has missed Inter Miami’s last three games through injury
• The Argentine is unlikely to feature on Wednesday, October 4 in Inter Miami’s game against Chicago Fire
• Chicago Fire fans who will be attending the game regardless will be offered a “$250 account credit”

Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire have resorted to offering their fans a cash incentive to ensure a decent attendance for the game against Inter Miami.

On Wednesday, October 4, Inter Miami travel to Soldier Field for a game against Chicago Fire, but there is a general concern that Lionel Messi will not play in that game.

Messi has missed Inter Miami’s last three matches through injury, and it is unlikely he will be fit enough to face Chicago Fire, despite them selling more than 61,000 tickets for the game.

Many of the fans were expecting to see the Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner in action, so Chicago Fire has decided to make an offer to the fans whether Messi, who has a leg injury, plays or not.

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"While we don't yet know the official status of Lionel Messi's availability for our match tomorrow, as there's never a guarantee that an athlete will play on any given night due to several factors, we understand that many of our fans may be disappointed if they don't get the chance to see him play," a news release by Fire said on Tuesday, as cited on ESPN.

What is the incentive?

As a way to encourage fans to attend the game, Chicago Fire has offered fans a $250 account credit "toward new memberships for the 2024 season”. Alternatively, according to the BBC, a $50 account credit will be offered to fans who cannot access the new member credit.

Fire rarely fill out their stadiums, with the highest attendance at the Soldier Field being 37,122 in 1998 during their inaugural season.

Messi trained with Inter Miami on Tuesday, though it remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough for team selection in Inter Miami’s next match. Coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino refused to further divulge Messi’s fitness levels ahead of the game.

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Messi wants Luka Modric at Inter Miami

In other news, Sports Brief reported on Messi’s desire to have Inter Miami sign veteran midfielder Luka Modric, 38.

According to former Real Madrid forward, Predrag Mijatovic, Messi is keen on the possibility of linking up with the Croatian at the US-based club.