⚽️ Messi's Absence Has Bigger Meaning For US Sports

We must accept that stars are going to sit out occasionally to ensure long-term health. [View in browser]( In today’s FOX Sports Insider with Martin Rogers: Lionel Messi and other great athletes may rest from time to time, but if it ensures their health, it is worth it … Which teams are on the way up and which teams are falling in the latest NFL power rankings? … and more! It started with a pizza, turned into a defeat, continued with an online advertisement and will be resolved once and for all on Wednesday night, when Lionel Messi either does or doesn't play for Inter Miami against Toronto FC. The Great Messi Mystery of mid-September signals a welcome change to the new, real-life iteration of the move made by the world's greatest modern player to Major League Soccer, and a line-drawn departure from the two-month fantasy tour that greeted his arrival. Messi – gasp! – didn't play for his new team last weekend, skipping the trip to Georgia to take on Atlanta United, a game that Inter lost 5-2. "Gasp" because he had played 12 straight matches – producing an electric eight wins, four draws and 11 goals. "Gasp" also because ticket prices skyrocket whenever he comes to any city, and some Atlantans would have been understandably grumbly once they realized what was not going down. The prospect of him sitting out for the first time since joining the club in July started to become apparent when the night before the game saw him posting about Miami Beach's Banchero pizzeria, when he might normally have been expected to be in an Atlanta hotel with his colleagues. (For the record, he ordered the "Don Antonio" an odd-looking pizza topped with tomato slices, onions, anchovies and olives. This also earned Messi a fair bit of derision in the digital world.) For the rest of the story, [click here.]( [STORY IMAGE 1] [IN OTHER WORDS] - Who are the league's best teams, who moved up and who fell? David Helman shows off the [updated power rankings]( featuring NFC teams in the top three spots — and a few others moving up. - Some NBA executives think Bucks star has shifted his philosophy on winning, which [could lead him to seeking a new home]( Ric Bucher writes. - Buckeyes' QB Kyle McCord faces his [first real test Saturday]( at No. 9 Notre Dame, and he knows the opportunity is "a big one." Laken Litman has the story. - Mel Tucker is done as Michigan State’s football coach. Who could be the next leader in East Lansing? Bryan Fischer runs down [10 potential candidates](. For the latest news and updates, [click here.]( [VIEWER'S GUIDE] New York Mets at Miami Marlins (FS1, 6:40 p.m. ET) Mets rookie sensation Kodai Senga takes the mound to face a tough Miami lineup in Miami. Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees (PRIME VIDEO, 7:05 p.m. ET) Kevin Gausman takes the hill for the Blue Jays when they battle Aaron Judge and the Yankees. For all of today's games and scores, [click here](. [BET OF THE DAY] Dallas Cowboys to win the NFC in 2023-24 (+380) From FOX Sports Dallas Cowboys Insider: David Helman Beating up on the Zach Wilson Jets doesn’t carry the same weight as if it was Aaron Rodgers, but Dak Prescott absolutely hammered a New York defense that made Josh Allen look like a rookie just last week, and Micah Parsons continues to stake his claim as the best defender in the league. This Cowboys team has outscored its first two opponents by a total of 70-10, which is typically something you only see in college football. For the latest betting odds, [click here](. [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV | Vizio | LG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV | Vizio | LG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2023 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. Click [here]( to view our Privacy Policy. Fox.com Business & Legal Affairs - Manager Digital Media P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, California 90213-0900