Lalas: 'Messi always walks on the field'

"Fitness management?", Lalas, the US player at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, asked on Twitter on August 24 about the issue of Messi needing a break. "Messi walks for most of the game. Don't worry, because he walks all the time and only accelerates when needed."

Earlier, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino raised the issue of reducing the load on Messi and some players. He is likely to shuffle the squad for the next three games by bringing in some substitutes. "You have to take into account the number of games we've played in the last 45, or 50 days," added Martino.

Since his Inter Miami debut on July 21, Messi has played eight games. Except for the first match on the field from the 54th minute and the second game being substituted from the 78th minute, the 36-year-old striker played all the remaining six matches. In the US Open semi-final on August 24, he was one of five Inter Miami players to play more than 120 minutes.

Messi plays for Inter Miami without the pre-season like when playing in Europe. However, the World Cup 2022 champion still integrates and achieves high performance. In the past eight games, Messi has scored 10 goals and assisted three times, bringing in eight victories, helping Inter Miami win its first title in history and reach two finals. After winning the Leagues Cup, Inter Miami will win a second title if they beat Houston Dynamo in the US Open final on September 28.

Since starting his career in 2004, Messi has played 861 club matches, averaging 45 games per season. This number does not include 32 matches for Barca's youth team, 18 matches for Argentina U20, five matches for Argentina U23 and 175 matches for Argentina.

On August 27, Inter Miami will return to the MLS Cup with a away game at the New York Red Bulls field. Messi's team is at the bottom of the eastern group, 14 points behind the play-off group, but 12 matches left. If they make it to the playoffs, Inter Miami will revive hopes of winning the MLS Cup, Leagues Cup and US Open treble.