Lionel Messi is currently sidelined with an ankle injury but made a notable appearance at Chase Stadium during Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night. Fans enjoyed a pre-game ceremony honoring Messi’s remarkable achievement of 45 titles and Argentina’s Copa America victory.
Wearing a protective boot on his right foot, Messi limped onto the field to join team owner Jorge Mas in a circle marked “Lionel Messi 45 Titles,” as a highlight reel celebrating his illustrious career played on the scoreboard. Mas remarked, “Tonight we celebrate something unprecedented and possibly never to be seen again,” emphasizing Messi’s status as the footballer with the most trophies in history.
Messi’s Current Condition and Recovery
At present, Messi’s competitive activities are on hold. He sustained a ligament injury in his right ankle during the Copa America final last Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. Coach Tata Martino stated that Messi will be evaluated on a weekly basis as he recovers, and the club is committed to avoiding any risks in his return.
Given his current condition, it seems unlikely that Messi will be ready to play soon. Martino did not comment on Messi’s availability for the upcoming MLS All-Star Game or the Leagues Cup match against Mexican club Puebla next Saturday but expressed hope that the team would be back to full strength by the end of August. Fortunately for Inter Miami, the team has adapted well in Messi’s absence.
Inter Miami’s Performance Without Messi
With the win against Chicago, Inter Miami improved to 6-1 in their last seven games without Messi, extending their lead over FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference standings. Miami now has 53 points from 16 wins, four losses, and five draws, while Cincinnati remains at 48 points after losing to the New York Red Bulls.
Jordi Alba with a magical volley to give us the lead 💥🤩 pic.twitter.com/yqtZ7YJJTi
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 21, 2024
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Inter Miami took an early lead when Matias Rojas scored just six minutes into the match, assisted by a brilliant setup from Robert Taylor. Despite dominating the first half with five shots on goal compared to Chicago’s one, Miami went into halftime with only a 1-0 lead. Martino attributed Taylor’s strong performance to recent discussions about his future with the team.
Martino stated, “Robert’s highs and lows are tied to his confidence and off-field matters. He was hearing questions about a potential transfer, but recent conversations have reassured him about his importance to us, which was reflected in his performance.”
The Fire managed to equalize with a goal from Rafaael Czichos in the 73rd minute, but Miami quickly regained the lead two minutes later when Jordi Alba capitalized on a defensive error to score, making it 2-1.
Key Contributions
Key contributions also came from goalkeeper Drake Callender and rookie defensive midfielder Yannick Bright. Callender made several impressive saves, including a remarkable stop where he deflected a shot and then blocked the rebound. Martino praised Bright’s performance, stating, “Yannick was the best player of the night,” highlighting his ability to disrupt the Fire’s play and make smart decisions with the ball.
A stellar performance from these 2 🌟
Jordi Alba and Yannick Bright have made the @MLS Team of the Matchday 👏
AdvertisementRead more here: https://t.co/dYhDCrmNft pic.twitter.com/CbJeIvJek9
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 21, 2024
To maintain their lead, Martino opted for a five-man defense in the closing minutes, a strategy that proved effective.
Luis Suarez returned to the starting lineup after limited play against Toronto, while the rest of the starting XI included Callender, Tomas Aviles, Alba, Fede Redondo, Sergio Busquets, Rojas, Julian Gressel, Marcelo Weigandt, Robert Taylor, and Bright.
Diego Gomez Nears Move to Brighton
Midfielders Benjamin Cremaschi and Diego Gomez missed the match as they are in France preparing for the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26. Gomez, who is representing Paraguay, confirmed that discussions are underway with English club Brighton regarding a potential transfer. He expressed that his goal in joining Inter Miami was to use it as a stepping stone to Europe.
Martino commented, “There is more than just interest from Brighton in Diego, and this was always going to happen. We don’t know when it will occur, but we support him. We are pleased with his progress over the past year and a half, which has attracted attention from many teams.”
Inter Miami assistant coach Javi Morales acknowledged Gomez’s talent and importance to the team but noted that the current discussions are merely rumors. “I hope we can keep him a little longer,” he added.
The Greatest of all time 🐐 https://t.co/HEbDuE2doh
— FootballChampions TV (@FootChampTv) July 21, 2024
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