Lionel Messi heads straight down tunnel to spark concern about Inter Miami cup final

talksport.com, 21 September 2023, 08:43

Lionel Messi has sparked concern he may miss the US Open Cup final later this month after being forced off before half-time on Wednesday night.

The 36-year-old lasted just 37 minutes in Inter Miami's 4-0 MLS victory over Toronto, with the forward heading down the tunnel after being substituted.

He was later seen on the bench with his eyes closed as he laid back into the chair.

Inter are looking to win their second piece of silverware this season following their Leagues Cup success when they face Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup on September 28.

But it remains to be seen whether Messi will be available, with Inter boss Gerardo Martino confirming he will miss the next match against Orlando.

As well as Messi, his ex-Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba also went off with an issue, as he stressed the pair were suffering from fatigue.

Lionel Messi gets kissed on the neck by comedian in bizarre video

Kate Abdo translates Lionel Messi's hilarious insult to Jamie Carragher in Instagram DM

Both players had already missed Inter's previous match - a 5-2 defeat away at Atlanta - due to fitness issues.

Martino said in his post-match press conference: "They trained normally and we felt like they were ready to play.

"I don't believe it's anything new or anything worse than what they had. It's fatigue. I don't think it's a muscular injury.

"There is no chance for them to play the Orlando match, but I do not think it's anything serious or muscle injuries. I think it is just fatigue."

Onana takes the blame, Ramsdale in the cold for Arsenal win, Europa League build-up

Kane unfazed by Martinez's pre-penalty mind games before being pushed off pitch

Arsenal 4-0 PSV LIVE REACTION: Saka stars as Gunners win on Champions League return

Bayern Munich 4-3 Man United LIVE: Kane scores in seven-goal thriller after Onana howler

Messi's early exit means it is the first time since October 2018 that he has been withdrawn from play before half-time.

Incredibly, it is just the eighth time it has happened from his 937 career starts.

The 2022 World Cup winner has been nothing short of sensational since linking up with Inter on a free transfer.

In 11 games in all competitions, he has chipped in with 11 goals and five assists.

But with the win over Toronto being the first of six games in 18 days for Miami, Messi will have to be managed carefully.

Read full version: https://talksport.com/football/1572916/lionel-messi-tunnel-injury-inter-miami-cup-final/

Alba
Avai
Barcelona
Carragher
Dynamo
Fati
Gerard
Gerardo
Gerardo Martino
Houston
Houston Dynamo
Inter
Inter Miami
Inter Miami vs Toronto FC
Jamie Carragher
Jordi
Jordi Alba
Leagues Cup
Lionel Messi
Messi
Messi injury
Miami
MLS
Toro
Toronto
US Open Cup
US Open Cup final

Top News

23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United transfer target Randal Kolo Muani is very likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, according to reports. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen his struggling squad. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the summer of 2025. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final Premier League gameweek before Christmas appropriately served up some crackers, including a festive feast of goals in North London, where Liverpool ran riot in an exhilarating 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Even when the pulse settled a little after this compellingspectacle it was still difficult to know quite where to start todissect this nine-goal thriller. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Ange Postecoglou cut an irritated figure as he claimed he's going to stop answering questions about Tottenham's tactics. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Borussia Dortmund attacker Julian Brandt next month. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Mohamed Salah refused to give anything away when asked whether he could break Ian Rush's all-time goalscoring record after the Reds' remarkable 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's astonishing 6-3 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening saw a multitude of records and achievements surpassed, as the Reds moved four points clear at the top of the table. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Ahli have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign Marcus Rashford, with the Manchester United attacker widely expected to be on the move during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Everton have become surprise leaders in one statistic across Europe thanks to their draw at home to Chelsea. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will spend Christmas Day four points clear at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a breathtaking 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in North London. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Kylian Mbappe struck a landmark effort to put himself firmly among Real Madrid's elite. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has insisted that he is "absolutely happy" with his side's goalless draw at Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 talksport.com If you thought Mohamed Salah couldn't set yet another record, think again. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For a second time in successive Gulf Cup competitions, The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait will meet in the group stage, with this upcoming game taking place on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Amad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong is supposedly not a 'concrete target' for Liverpool amid speculation over Trent Alexander-Arnold's future. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid moved into second spot in the La Liga table courtesy of a 4-2 success over Sevilla in Sunday afternoon's contest at Bernabeu, with Los Blancos ending 2024 on a high note. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Oman and Qatar will compete in the Gulf Cup for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, each seeking their first victory in this edition of the tournament. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly received offers from three clubs for defender Eric Garcia, but the player is pushing against a move away from Catalonia during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have broken two unwanted club Premier League records in their humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk New Wolverhampton Wanderers' boss Vitor Pereira earned three points when his side comfortably beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City 3-0 away from home on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Aaron Ramsdale was spotted wearing a modified goalkeeper glove in Southampton's Premier League clash at Fulham. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea squandered the chance to go top of the Premier League table for a couple of hours as Everton held the Blues to a goalless stalemate at Goodison Park. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Djed Spence has been named in the Tottenham Hotspur starting XI for their Premier League clash with Liverpool, while Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo get the nod up front for the visitors. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Manchester United were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth in a defeat that saw Ruben Amorim's side achieve an unwanted record. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Gary Neville believes that Ruben Amorim will allow Marcus Rashford to leave Manchester United for the sake of 'himself and the club'. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola isn't immune from the sack at Manchester City having continued their unprecedented and dismal run of form. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly earmarked Leeds United shot-stopper Illan Meslier as one of two goalkeeper targets ahead of the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Burnley's James Trafford as their top transfer target for the January transfer window.