Lionel Messi was substituted in the 37th minute of Inter Miami CF's 4-0 victory over Toronto FC on Wednesday due to muscle fatigue. His former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba had also left the field minutes earlier.
Miami coach Gerardo Martino stated after the match that both Alba and Messi will be assessed in the coming days. However, they will not be available to play against Orlando City on Sunday in order to be ready for the U.S. Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo next Wednesday.
"I am certain they won't be there on Sunday. I understand we have a final to play [next Wednesday] but they won't be on the pitch if they are unfit to play," said Martino.
Messi and Alba, who both started the game after missing Saturday's 5-2 loss to Atlanta United FC, did not appear to be involved in any significant challenges or visibly limping. However, they were clearly experiencing physical discomfort.
"They trained normally, and we believed they were prepared to play," Martino stated through an interpreter. "I don't believe it's anything new or worse than what they had before. It's fatigue. We don't believe it's a muscular injury. This is also based on a recent conversation I had with [Messi]. However, we need to continue being cautious, and we will monitor him over the next few days."
He added, "I am aware of the potential outcomes, and after speaking with them, I am less pessimistic than when I had to substitute them."
Both players went directly to the bench after leaving the field. Shortly after, Miami's Facundo FarÃas scored a goal, giving the home team a 1-0 lead at halftime. In the second half, Robert Taylor scored two remarkable goals, and Benjamin Cremaschi added another to secure the victory.
Messi showed great energy early on and had a golden opportunity in the 23rd minute, but his far-post volley went over the bar from close range. However, 15 minutes later, it became clear that the Argentine was struggling with a physical issue, and he was replaced by Taylor.
Alba had left the game just four minutes before Messi. Toronto also made two substitutions before the Miami duo's departure, with former Barcelona youth player Victor Vasquez being forced off in the 12th minute. His replacement, Brandon Servania, was then helped off the field with an apparent knee injury just 14 minutes later.
Before being substituted, Messi spent a few minutes dealing with what seemed to be a leg issue. During play, he stretched his right leg, eventually removing his captain's armband and waiting for a stoppage in the game to depart. He even unlaced his cleats, lowered his socks, and removed his shin guards before leaving the field.
In recent days, Messi missed his last two matches, one for his club and the other for the national team. He was absent from Argentina's World Cup qualifying win against Bolivia on September 12 and the loss to Atlanta on Saturday. Fatigue was cited in both cases, and Messi was unavailable for comment.
The match on Wednesday marked the beginning of a busy stretch for Inter Miami, with six games scheduled within 17 days. After facing Orlando on Sunday and Houston in the U.S. Open Cup on September 27, Miami will play three more MLS matches against New York City FC on September 30, Chicago Fire FC on October 4, and FC Cincinnati on October 7.
As a result of the victory, Miami is now five points behind D.C. United, who drew 1-1 with Cincinnati on Wednesday, for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with two games in hand.
Messi had made 11 appearances for Miami prior to Wednesday's match, primarily in Leagues Cup and U.S. Open Cup competitions. In those games, he scored 11 goals and provided five assists, including one goal and two assists in three MLS matches.
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