Argentine football icon Lionel Messi made a short-lived return to the field for Inter Miami as he was forced off after just 37 minutes in their recent clash against Toronto FC. Messi’s abrupt departure has raised concerns about his availability for the upcoming US Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo.
Manager Cites ‘Old Injury’
Inter Miami’s manager, Gerardo Martino, disclosed that the 36-year-old forward is dealing with an “old injury.” This setback comes after Messi missed Miami’s previous match against Atlanta due to fatigue. It remains uncertain whether he will be fit for the crucial cup final next week.
Lionel Messi’s absence from Miami’s game against Atlanta was preceded by his omission from Argentina’s squad for their match against Bolivia. Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, chose not to field Messi, citing his lack of readiness and discomfort.
In an unfortunate twist, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, Jordi Alba, also suffered an injury during the Toronto FC match. Manager Martino confirmed that both Messi and Alba would be unavailable for Miami’s upcoming fixture against Orlando City.
Team Rally for Victory
Since joining Inter Miami in July, Lionel Messi has made a significant impact on the team. In the 11 matches he has featured in, Miami has not suffered a single defeat. Messi’s contribution has been instrumental in bolstering the MLS club’s performance following his departure from Paris St-Germain at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Despite Messi’s early exit against Toronto, his teammates rallied to secure a commanding 4-0 victory. Robert Taylor, Messi’s replacement, made a notable impact by scoring twice, while Facundo Farias and Benjamin Cremaschi also found the net.
Manager Martino revealed that initial scans did not indicate any injury for Messi, and the decision to substitute him was a precautionary measure. Although there is no apparent muscular injury, Martino emphasized the need for caution and stated that further assessment would be conducted in the coming days.
