Inter Miami travel to New England Revolution’s Gillette Stadium this weekend, where the lack of a grass surface could cause issues.
“As a professional athlete, you can’t play a game like soccer on that sort of field,” insisted David Beckham, after the LA Galaxy star had sat out a match at Toronto’s BMO Field in 2007. “What it does to your body, as a soccer player, you [need] two or three days off for that. Every game, every team should have grass, without a doubt.”
He is not the only big name European import to complain about the lack of natural grass at certain MLS venues. Thierry Henry often avoided artificial fields during his four-year stint with the New York Red Bulls. Didier Drogba did the same with CF Montreal. Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic did acquiesce to playing on artificial surfaces for the Galaxy, but only in crucial playoff matches.
In short, the more demanding artificial surfaces are thought to pose a greater risk to the aging stars who make the trip to MLS after a career of high-intensity action in Europe.
It’s a topic that Inter Miami will have to contend with this season as they look to ease their aging quartet of ex-Barcelona players through a gruelling season. Miami travel to New England Revolution’s Gillette Stadium this weekend, one of six MLS venues with an artificial surface. With Tata Martino anxious to avoid an injury to the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, will they play against New England on Saturday?
Lionel Messi was remarkably injury-free during his 20-year professional career in Europe but now, aged 36, is starting to pick up issues with greater frequency. Messi’s muscular injuries broke Miami’s moment in late 2023 and has kept him out of four games already this season. A trip to
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