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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Game time has been carefully managed</li><li>Played 90 minutes in back-to-back games</li><li>Herons competing on multiple fronts in 2025</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n" rel="sponsored"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

‘Better chance with Lionel Messi coming off’ - Shock Inter Miami advice explained by former USMNT star as MLS outfit look to ‘win every competition’

FIFA Club World Cup

Al Ahly SC

Inter Miami CF

<p>The Herons have been <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-luis-suarez-playing-lionel-messi-rested-inter-miami-selection-calls-explained-ex-barcelona-superstars-treated-differently-mls/blt8d9b2e957c15341c" target="_blank">wary of asking too much of their Ballon d’Or-winning captain</a> this season. Argentine icon Messi missed 15 regular season matches in MLS last season but was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/wasnt-my-mvp-usmnt-legend-alexi-lalas-reacts-lionel-messi-award-inter-miami-superstar-named-best-mls-2024/bltf4316515654b3054" target="_blank">still able to claim MVP honours</a>.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72;height: 40;"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Stream games now</a></div>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>He has already sat out domestic and CONCACAF Champions Cup fixtures in 2025, with a chronic leg muscle injury being carefully managed. Messi has, however, played the full 90 minutes in back-to-back matches with LAFC and Toronto FC.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Ex-United States international McCarty believes that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-lionel-messi-missed-third-straight-game-inter-miami-mls-injury-risk/blt5ead5ceddbfdf7fe" target="_blank">Javier Mascherano needs to continue rotating his squad</a> in order to compete on multiple fronts - which means that more brave calls need to be made when it comes to Messi’s game time.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>McCarty, who earned 13 caps for the USMNT and represented the likes of the New York Red Bulls and Nashville SC in his playing days, has told <a href="https://tv.apple.com/sporting-event/mls-wrap-up/umc.cse.5f2boukc1avrnoutg1h3yshv2?mttnsubad=umc.cse.5f2boukc1avrnoutg1h3yshv2 " target="_blank"><em>MLS Wrap-Up</em></a>: “I just still think if Inter Miami wants to win every competition they're in, you give yourself a better chance to beat LAFC with Lionel Messi coming off after 60 minutes (against Toronto) and getting fresh legs on the field.</p><p>“Listen, it's a tough balance to follow, but against a Toronto FC team I think you should beat comfortably, I thought Messi should have come off.”</p>

WHAT EX-USMNT & MLS STAR SAID

<p>Inter Miami were held to a 1-1 draw by Toronto at Chase Stadium, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-lionel-messi-argentine-superstar-pinpoint-strike-record-setting-inter-miami-goal-toronto-mls/bltb09c4d3824e24f6f" target="_blank">Messi netting their goal on the stroke of half-time</a>. The Herons will be back in action on Wednesday when facing LAFC in the second leg of a Champions Cup quarter-final tie that they trail 1-0 on aggregate.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR LIONEL MESSI & INTER MIAMI?

‘Better chance with Lionel Messi coming off’ - Shock Inter Miami advice explained by former USMNT star as MLS outfit look to ‘win every competition’ | Goal.com

Inter Miami have been given surprise “better chance with Lionel Messi coming off” advice, with former USMNT star Dax McCarty explaining that call.

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