Since July, Lionel Messi has been consistently playing despite being 36 years old. The question of whether his age might be catching up with him has been raised, and this month, it seems that this question is starting to find answers. Due to an injury, Messi did not play in the match against Atalanta, which Inter Miami lost 5-2.
Even though Messi is now part of the Argentine national team for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, he has played only one out of two matches this month. Against Toronto FC, Messi had to leave the field in just 37 minutes due to an injury, and it is suspected that he may have a right foot injury or muscle fatigue. Miami’s coach, Gerardo Martino, has stated that they will monitor Messi closely after receiving the doctor’s report.
Based on the doctor’s report, they will decide whether Messi has a foot injury or muscle fatigue. The injury prompted Messi to leave the field just 3 minutes before Alba, who also had to leave due to a similar reason. Martino mentioned that there is no chance for Messi and Alba to play in the “Florida Derby” against Orlando City on Sunday, and he is not certain about their participation in the upcoming US Open Cup final next week either. Martino added, “We have to observe every day, base decisions on the doctor’s report, and what they say we will decide. The question of whether Messi played forcefully in this match despite his fatigue or injury is also something Martino addressed, saying, “Everything was right for the players to play. No, there is no chance that they played forcefully. We’ve taken care of everything for the players to play fit.”
As for Messi’s injury, Martino tried to provide some insights, saying, “The injury is an old one. He has been having trouble for a long time. Even when playing for the national team, he was scanned, but we are trying to keep him safe.” Messi joined Miami last July. Since then, he has played 11 matches in the club’s jersey, scoring 11 goals and providing 5 assists. With this kind of performance, it’s possible that ticket prices will start to drop. When asked about this possibility, Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber kept Messi’s situation in mind, saying, “No league can force a player or a team to do something that poses a health or safety risk. Messi probably played more matches than expected.”
In summary, Messi’s recent injuries and limited playtime are raising concerns about his fitness and ability to perform at his best as he gets older. Fans and observers will be eagerly waiting for updates on his condition as the season progresses.
