On Wednesday, Lionel Messi, playing for Inter Miami CF, scored a goal and assisted another before leaving the game due to a leg injury.
Despite his early exit, Inter Miami CF won 3-1 against Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup round-of-16 match.
After the game, Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino talked about Messi’s injury. He mentioned that Messi might not play in the upcoming Major League Soccer (MLS) match against DC United on Saturday. Martino explained that they want to be cautious with Messi’s injury and avoid taking any risks.
Martino clarified that Messi has a muscle overload in his right leg, and they don’t want to risk aggravating it further. Despite being benched during the team’s recent loss to CF Montréal, Messi didn’t appear to be injured at the time. However, during the game against Nashville SC, his injury became noticeable, and they decided to substitute him.
Messi’s early exit from the game in the 50th minute was the earliest he has been subbed off in the second half of a match in his career. Before leaving the game, Messi assisted his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez, helping Inter Miami CF take a 2-0 lead.
Martino acknowledged that Messi’s absence would be significant for the team, as he is considered the best player of all time. Despite this, the team managed to advance to the next round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup with a 5-3 aggregate score. They are now preparing to face the winner of Monterrey vs FC Cincinnati in the quarterfinals next month.