Last Friday, Messi was the star of the show in the first leg. He scored the game-winning goal, and a late goal from Luis Suarez gave Miami a chance to salvage a 2-2 tie. The veteran forward was benched for Sunday’s 3-2 loss to CF Montreal in the Major League Soccer match after manager Tata Martino made comments about his being “tired” from a busy schedule. With Messi returning to first-team training on Tuesday, Martino has received a tremendous boost in preparation for the return to cup action.

Messi has gotten Inter Miami off to a blistering start this season, scoring four goals and setting up another in only four matches in the MLS and the CCC. As they prepare to launch a devastating Miami onslaught, his partnership with former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez has been on full display on multiple occasions. Messi will reach 37 in July and Suarez is already that age, so the Herrons will have to figure out how to play without one of the experienced two. They still need time to adjust, as evidenced by their loss to Montreal on Sunday.

The head coach of the Herons has been very public about the importance of recuperation periods for 36-year-old Messi in the lead-up to a very demanding season. “We discussed it about a week ago and we agreed that this was the game where he had to rest, regardless of what happened in the game with Nashville,” he told reporters following Sunday’s loss. We need to check that our squad is healthy and capable of finishing the season.

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Moreover, he mentioned before the game in Nashville that, “All the players are doing well, all the players are available.”

Martino may choose Thursday’s cup play over Sunday’s MLS meeting, but Messi and Suarez are expected to start in that crucial last-16 encounter. After the first leg ended in a scoreless draw, the match is in a precarious position; the health of Miami’s star forward is crucial to the team’s chances of advancing.