Messi will decide if and when he needs to rest
Since making his debut appearance off the bench against Cruz Azul, Messi has played every minute of the last eight games. At some point, he will need to rest.
It’s been an idyllic start to life in the US for Leo Messi. Since the moment he announced his signing with Inter Miami, everything has gone right for him and the team. In June, he was on target, scoring the fastest goal of his career in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Australia - the Albicelestes’ penultimate friendly before next month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Argentine took a few days off before joining his new club. Since then, Messi’s return to the pitch has brought a winning streak of eight victories and no defeats - and the franchise’s first trophy, the Leagues Cup which the team lifted just a few days ago.
As the numbers show, Messi has been much more than the protagonist in Inter Miami’s dramatic transformation. He has scored 10 goals and given three assists in his first eight appearances; he has also played every minute since making his debut against Cruz Azul at the end of July.
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At 36, Messi is experiencing a stage of maturity full of success and happiness, which allows him to enjoy football and preserve the competitive spirit that pushes him to play every minute of every game. However, both the media and fans have voiced concerns about the star’s lack of rest since his arrival in the United States. Leo has played eight games in just 33 days - and one of those games went to extra-time. So far, that’s an average of one match every four days over the course of over one month.
Martino to let Messi choose
During his most recent press conference, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino was asked whether he had considered resting Messi for the next game - against New York Red Bulls this weekend, which would be the player’s MLS debut. The Argentinean replied, “At some point, he will need to stop to recover. As long as he doesn’t tell me anything, he will continue to play. You know what he is like, he loves playing, having the ball at his feet and participating in every game.” In a roundabout way, the coach explained that it will be Messi who makes the final decision on when he needs to rest.
Inter Miami travel to New York to face the Red Bulls on Saturday and it is still a total unknown whether Messi will be from the starting line-up or on the bench. He needs to get his strength back after a tough but gratifying start to life in Miami. The decision rests solely and exclusively with the 36-year-old...