Lionel Messi returned to the pitch after nearly two weeks on Wednesday night but was unable to complete the full match.
Messi, who had missed two Inter Miami games and played in only one of two World Cup qualifying matches for Argentina earlier in the month, started in Wednesday’s match against Toronto FC but played only 37 minutes.
Messi had been dealing with a right leg injury or fatigue after an intense period of play since late July. Inter Miami coach Tata Martino mentioned that Messi had been evaluated for an injury while with the Argentina national team, but scans did not reveal any significant injury.
During the match, Messi showed signs of discomfort and was seen stretching his right leg before exiting the game. “He had an old injury that had been bothering him. The scans he had with the national team, they didn’t show any injury. We still saved him to be safe,” Martino said of Messi after the match Wednesday. Jordi Alba was replaced too with fatigue.
« I know we have a final to play but they won’t go near the pitch if they can’t play, » Martino said, giving Messi and Alba even more rest. Messi did not play in Saturday’s loss at Atlanta United, not even traveling with the team. Inter Miami could be protecting Messi and Alba, prioritizing the U.S. Open Cup final on Sept. 27.
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