New York Red Bulls ‘have a plan’ to contain Lionel Messi

Ticket prices have soared on the secondary market.

Security measures are being ramped up like never before. 

Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., for once, will be a centerpiece of the sporting landscape this weekend. 

Messi Mania has arrived and the buzz certainly is palpable, but the most pertinent question is how much international superstar Lionel Messi actually will play Saturday night against the Red Bulls in his first MLS appearance in the tri-state area with his surging new side, Inter Miami. 

The 36-year-old legend has led Miami to eight consecutive victories — netting 10 goals — since his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in July, leading David Beckham’s club to a championship trophy in the Leagues Cup last weekend plus a spot in the U.S. Open Cup Finals in late September. 

The latter berth was secured with a comeback victory in penalty kicks Wednesday night over FC Cincinnati, with Messi playing all 120 minutes, assisting on both Miami goals and converting his PK. 

That workload, however, prompted Miami manager Tata Martino to admit afterward that Saturday night’s resumption of regular-season action might be used akin to a load-management situation for Messi, who could start or come off the bench against the Red Bulls. 

“Our preparation is solely focused around what we want to do. If that includes the best player in the world, maybe of all time, then we have a plan for that, or if he’s not included in the starting 11,” first-year Red Bulls head coach Troy Lesesne said. “We’re going to focus on us and how we want to go about the way we want to play this match.” 

Of course, mostly everyone else will be focused on Messi, who was photographed alongside tennis superstar Novak Djokovic — in town for the start of the U.S. Open next week — on Thursday night in New York. 

Saturday’s visit marks the first of a dozen remaining regular-season matches for Messi and Miami, which is looking to move out of last place in the Eastern Conference and make a late push for a postseason berth. They were 5-14-3 in regular-season play before the tournament shutdown — all before Messi arrived — and remain 14 points out of a playoff position. 

Though Lesesne also called Messi “an outlier of a player,” he’s more concerned about his own team’s playoff chances, entering three points outside the postseason cutoff with 10 matches to play. 

“What he’s done for the league is incredible, and what he’s done for the game is incredible,” Lesesne said. 

“I would say it’s a huge challenge, number one. But this is an extremely important match for us, and the number one reason is that we want to better our position and try to get into the playoffs. 

“Clearly, it’s also an important match because of who’s playing. Not only Messi. … There’s a lot of good players on their team.” 

Indeed, Miami added a few other international transfers this summer, including former Barcelona stars Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. Regardless of how much Messi is on the pitch, it should make for an electric atmosphere in the sold-out stadium. 

“There’s two ways I look at it. Definitely a dream come true. [Messi] was one of the first players I looked up to,” said Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Edelman, a 20-year-old New Jersey native. “The other side is he’[s another guy on the field. I just want to try and stop him and treat him as any other player in the league. 

“But of course, it’s Messi, the best of all time. We have to try and stop him any way possible when he gets on the field. We can’t look at it any other way.”