In an effort to manage their star players' minutes and ensure their long-term fitness, Inter Miami is expected to give Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez a rest when they face CF Montreal on Sunday.

Messi, the 36-year-old Argentine forward, has played every single minute of Miami's three MLS matches so far in 2024, as well as in their recent Concacaf Champions League draw against Nashville SC on Thursday. Assistant coach Javier Morales hinted on Saturday that Messi would be given some respite ahead of the return leg against Nashville.

"We all know Leo and he is a player who wants to play every game," Morales stated during a media availability. "I think we will have a conversation with him, see how he feels, see how he is and try to decide what is best for him because he has played 90 minutes every game, and we will make the best decision thinking about the future."

Although Messi scored a crucial goal that helped Miami secure a 2-2 draw against Nashville, he also suffered a hard tackle on his shin late in the game. However, Morales clarified that the tackle was just a "knock" and would not affect the decision on whether Messi will play on Sunday, although he was later listed as questionable with a shin issue on MLS' player status report.

Similarly, Suarez, who has also started all four games this season for Miami, is in a comparable position to Messi and could be in line for a rest against Montreal. Morales confirmed that Suarez is physically fit to play, but the team wants to manage his workload considering the congested fixture schedule.

"Both Luis, Leo, all the players, have been playing a lot of minutes, especially in this stretch of matches, and we have to manage it the best we can because it's a long season and we're just starting. We can't do anything crazy," Morales explained. "Same as Leo, we will talk to Luis and see what is best for the team."

While Morales did not reveal the complete lineup, he did mention that another former Barcelona player, Jordi Alba, will be starting against Montreal as he suggested on the previous day.

Inter Miami's decision to rest key players comes ahead of their crucial return leg against Nashville in the Concacaf Champions Cup round-of-16 tie on Wednesday. By managing the minutes of Messi and Suarez, the team aims to prioritize their physical well-being and optimize their performance in the upcoming matches.