Please play on March 10, Messi | Schad

Please play on March 10, Messi.

That’s all I ask.

I don’t pay to attend too many sporting events but I did shell out more than $900 for three tickets to watch Messi and Inter Miami against the Montreal Expos or whatever they’re called.

The game will take place on a Sunday at 6 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale, which is much better than the 8 p.m. start time for the MLS kickoff on Wednesday.

I’ve convinced my daughter that Inter Miami’s pink uniforms are cool (want a sweatshirt?) and explained to my wife how Messi is essentially the best in the world at what he does.

It will be like watching LeBron in his prime. Not sold? OK, OK, like Taylor Swift on her very best night.

Now here’s the rub.

I’ve heard Taylor will do 44 songs at a concert. Fourty four songs!

Will Messi play 44 minutes on March 10? No promises. Ask the folks in Hong Kong.

Too soon? Messi recorded a video (!) for the folks in Hong Kong explaining his absence from a recent game there was not politically motivated.

He was simply not “fit” as they say in soccer. Sorry, “futbol.”

I’ve always casually enjoyed soccer. Love, love, love the World Cup (who doesn’t?).

I have broadcast college soccer games. And even once covered the New York/New Jersey MetroStars of MLS.

Soccer, soccer, soccer!

I have taken in a Premier League match with esteemed Dave Hyde of the Sun-Sentinel.

I have taken in a Bundesliga match with youngsters David Furones and Daniel Oyefusi of the S-S and Herald.

Much to be enjoyed.

And yet I am told there are no guarantees Messi will play on March 10.

Messi reporter Safid Deen of USA Today warned me that the club has “CONCACAF Champions Cup” matches three days before and after my game, which could affect Messi’s minutes.

I know soccer purists will get angry with me for not understanding how and why tournament games seem to take precedence over league matches.

But I’m told they can. And they do.

Soccer guru Hal Habib, Dolphins colleague, recently warned, “Did you read the ticket! No guarantees. He’s not going to play every game! Not at his age!”

To which I replied, “Why not?”

Load management stinks

I don’t love the NBA at all.

And I really don’t like how they don’t play defense like they used to. Especially in All-Star Games.

But I also really, really don’t like it when a player is “rested” for “load management.”

If Messi really is worn out on March 10, maybe send him out for a swift 44 of 90 minutes?

The crowd won’t boo (I don’t think) if he at least plays some.

My boss, Nick Pugliese, forwarded an email from StubHub.

The ticket broker says MLS sales are up seven times since Messi’s arrival.

Messi boosts MLS

They say Inter Miami sales are up 150 times since the start of last season.

Look, I actually bought the MLS package on Apple TV after Messi’s arrival last season.

And I did not regret the purchase. In fact, those games were awesome.

It turns out that all 10 of the top 10 most in-demand MLS games for 2024, per StubHub, are now Inter Miami matches.

I’m not sure why my game isn’t on the list. Does someone know something?

March 10, Messi, OK?

I’ll be in Section 117.

Joe Schad can be reached at jschad@pbpost.com and @schadjoe on X. For some reason, Joe specifically recalls cheering for Roberto Baggio of Italy in a World Cup once. And, yes, of course, U.S. heroes Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey and Christian Pulisic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Messi. Inter Miami. Our Joe Schad is headed to a game. But will Messi play?