Inter Miami’s coach, Tata Martino, answers whether Lionel Messi will play in the club’s last match for the year
Lionel Messi’s injury did not seem to be a problem in the recent match between Argentina and Peru, where the lineal-GOAT scored twice for Argentina to cause a victory for Argentina.
The Barcelona legend was anything but at his best in the last moments of the MLS playoffs, where he watched helplessly as his club was hurled out of the playoffs because of bad results. This was because of his injury, which coach Tata Martino hinted was so bad that the player could not compete for the club where he had already proved his worth by helping them win their first ever Leagues Cup title last season.
While answering whether the player would be available for the last match Inter Miami will play for the years seeing he looks able to, Tata Martino seemed unwilling to speak for Lionel Messi, though the player looks like he has recovered from his injury. The coach replied that he would have to talk with Messi to get the answer to that.
‘I saw Leo’s interview,’ revealed Martino. ‘Saw what he said, but I just had time to say hello to him and we have not had time to talk. The most important thing is the 90 minutes he played [for Argentina], that he felt well and played confidently and not worried about his injury.
‘Sometimes your head plays games with you after injuries. Thursday we will see if he is also ready to play Saturday.’
Martino has two great players on the injury bed towards the end of the club’s last feature in the MLS playoffs, and he promised that the players will rest till he is sure they are fit to play. These players were Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi.
Soon after, he seemed to have reached an agreement with Lionel Messi, whom he sent in twice to bring a change to the bad results the club was amassing, but he should have saved himself the trouble. Messi was unable to help out.
GOAT debate
The debate on who is the greater between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo seems to have come to an end for some, with Lionel Messi winning the name, but some think they should be called nothing but lineal GOATs.
Below are Lionel Messi’s performances juxtaposed with those of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo | Award | Lionel Messi |
---|---|---|
5 | Ballon d’Or | 7 |
2 | The Best FIFA Men’s Player | 1 |
4 | European Golden Shoe | 6 |
0 | World Cup Golden Ball | 2 |
4 | UEFA Player of the Year | 3 |
14 | FIFPro World XI | 14 |
4 | Player of the Year (league) | 6 |
Cristiano Ronaldo | Season | Lionel Messi |
---|---|---|
5 | 2002-03 | – |
6 | 2003-04 | – |
9 | 2004-05 | 1 |
12 | 2005-06 | 8 |
23 | 2006-07 | 17 |
42 | 2007-08 | 16 |
26 | 2008-09 | 38 |
33 | 2009-10 | 47 |
53 | 2010-11 | 53 |
60 | 2011-12 | 73 |
55 | 2012-13 | 60 |
51 | 2013-14 | 41 |
61 | 2014-15 | 58 |
51 | 2015-16 | 41 |
42 | 2016-17 | 54 |
44 | 2017-18 | 45 |
28 | 2018-19 | 51 |
37 | 2019-20 | 31 |
36 | 2020-21 | 38 |
24 | 2021-22 | 11 |
17 | 2022-23 | 21 |
17 | 2023-24/2023 | 11 |
732 | Total | 715 |
Here are more of Lionel Messi’s accomplishments:
Competition | Games | Goals |
---|---|---|
World Cup | 26 | 13 |
Copa America | 34 | 13 |
World Cup qualification | 63 | 31 |
Finalissima | 1 | 0 |
International friendlies | 54 | 49 |
Total | 178 | 106 |