The Reason Lionel Messi Didn't Play Against Montreal in MLS
Messi had played every minute of Miami’s first three MLS fixtures this season.
Lionel Messi sat out Inter Miami’s 3-2 home Major League Soccer defeat to Montreal on Sunday as he was rested.
Messi had played every minute of Miami’s first three MLS fixtures this season since joining up with co-owner David Beckham’s franchise in July, but watched from the stands as they slipped to their first defeat.
Miami’s assistant coach Javier Morales had hinted to reporters on Saturday that Messi could be rested, saying: “We all know Leo and he is a player who wants to play every game.
“I think we will have a conversation with him, see how he feels, see how he is and try to decide what is best for him because he has played 90 minutes every game and we will make the best decision thinking about the future.”
Messi took a heavy knock to the shin after scoring in Thursday’s 2-2 CONCACAF Champions Cup draw with Nashville, but Morales said that was not the reason why the 36-year-old did not feature.
Precisely, his rest is related to the second leg match of the CONCACAF Champions League round of 16, which takes place this coming Wednesday, and for which "Tata" Martino wants the Argentine star to be well-rested. In the first leg, the Florida team drew 2-2 against Nashville and they need Messi's best performance to advance to the next round.
