Unlike the top five European leagues, which were the most represented at this summer\u2019s showpiece event, MLS\u2019s regular-season demands have seen other players from the tournament return before the 21-day mark. The 44 other representatives, though, were eliminated before Messi and De Paul.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe World Cup concluded only a matter of hours ago,\u201d said manager Guillermo Hoyos. \u201cTheir priority now is to rest and spend time with their loved ones back home … They will be absent for however long it takes.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to missing the two key Argentines, Miami<\/a> will be without the injured Tadeo Allende, David Ayala, Maxi Falc\u00f3n and Gonzalo Luj\u00e1n. Young players Santiago Morales and Alexander Shaw are also out on international duty with the U-20 U.S. men\u2019s national team at the Concacaf Championship.\u00a0<\/p>\n Miami Take on Lewandowski\u2019s Debut Robert Lewandowski is set to make his MLS debut with the Chicago Fire. | Jacek Boczarski\/Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Once rumored to join the Herons, famed striker Robert Lewandowski is set to take on Miami in his MLS debut with Chicago. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich star was supposed to<\/a> debut last week<\/a> against ex-teammate Thomas M\u00fcller and Vancouver Whitecaps<\/a>, before smoke and hazy conditions in Chicago forced the match to be rescheduled.\u00a0<\/p>\n While Lewandowski is unlikely to start, an appearance off the bench will make him the latest star to take on MLS and also usher in a new era for the Fire<\/a> after the club sold 29-year-old MLS Golden Boot leader Hugo Cuypers to CF Monterrey to open up a starting role for the Polish star.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOne thing I can tell you about Robert is that he has a tremendous work rate,\u201d said manager Gregg Berhalter. \u201cWhen you think about a guy coming into the team, who was jet-lagged all last week and he\u2019s pushing the guys in training, we are doing fitness stuff, he’s pushing that and doing extra work after.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you look at our team right now, it\u2019s the same except for Robert switching out for Hugo. And we’ve done fine up until then. You would think, based on that equation, we would be better.\u201d<\/p>\n After Wednesday\u2019s game, both teams will play again on Saturday, leading into next week\u2019s MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte, a showcase that saw Cuypers, Messi and De Paul named to the MLS squad, but all appear unlikely to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Robert](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01kxp9nk2x2gjzsw3tre.jpg\" "\\"Robert")
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