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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Article continues below
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- Game time has been carefully managed
- Played 90 minutes in back-to-back games
- Herons competing on multiple fronts in 2025
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Herons have been wary of asking too much of their Ballon d’Or-winning captain this season. Argentine icon Messi missed 15 regular season matches in MLS last season but was still able to claim MVP honours.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
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.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Ex-United States international McCarty believes that Javier Mascherano needs to continue rotating his squad 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.
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WHAT EX-USMNT & MLS STAR SAID
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 : “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.
“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.”
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