It's become quite clear that, at some point, Inter Miami are going to have to win without Lionel Messi. They basically did it in their most recent match, a 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls that saw Messi come off the bench to seal the win with a dazzling late goal.
But, even so, that was still a cameo, and a Messi cameo is still a massive advantage in MLS. It's also a luxury Miami won't have in the very near future as they prepare for some time without their superstar signing.
But how can Miami win without him and, as the season reaches its most important moments, why does Messi have to miss games in the first place?
The answer to the first question will come over the next month or two, while the answer to the last one has been made clear over the last week or so. With Miami pushing for a miracle run towards their playoffs, head coach Tata Martino is already making preparations for life without Messi.