Lionel Messi: Inter Miami star BENCHED ahead of NY Red Bulls game despite fans spending over $20,000 on tickets for his potential MLS debut
- Messi has only played in cup competitions since arriving in Miami last month
- But his long-awaited MLS debut is not guaranteed to come at the Red Bull Arena
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Lionel Messi starts on the bench for Inter Miami against New York Red Bulls on Saturday night – meaning his much anticipated MLS debut could come as a substitute.
Messi got off to a blistering start in the United States, scoring 10 goals in his first eight appearances for Miami to win the Leagues Cup.
Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain also inspired them this week for the US Open Cup final, which Inter will play against Houston Dynamo next month.
All eight of his appearances to date have come in cup competitions, meaning his MLS debut is eagerly awaited.
So much so that some fans have spent more than $20,000 to get tickets to Miami’s league game against the Red Bulls on Saturday night.
Lionel Messi starts on Saturday on the bench for Inter Miami against New York Red Bulls
All eight of Messi’s appearances in Miami to date have come in the Leagues Cup and US Open Cup
Inter boss Tata Martino (right) has therefore given his star man the much-needed rest
But unfortunately for the fans in question, Messi will not be involved from the start of the game at the Red Bull Arena, having been named a substitute.
Inter boss Tata Martino hinted on Friday that his star man could be rested this weekend, having played eight games in the space of six weeks since arriving at the club.
Speaking after their win over Cincinnati in the US Open Cup semi-final, Martino said: “Leo and many other players are reaching an important physical limit and starting today we will start evaluating this – how am I going to face the next three games?
“You also have to take into account the large number of games we played in 45, 50 days.”
Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate Sergio Busquets will also start Saturday night’s game on the bench.
After a remarkable first month on American soil, Messi would make his MLS bow at the Red Bull Arena.
That caused a stir on the ticketing websites, with fans turning down their seats at the match for up to an hour $23,528 – including taxes.
Nevertheless, the 36-year-old will only play a part in the game for a limited time after being rested by Martino – if he comes off the bench at all.
With Miami sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, Martino could be tempted to rest him completely ahead of a busy schedule in September.
The Messi mania has hit the United States well, with fans spending more than $20,000 on tickets for his potential MLS debut against the Red Bulls
But the Argentinian starts on the bench, despite the high expectations in New York
Ahead of the US Open Cup final on September 27, Inter has six MLS games up its sleeve against Nashville, LAFC, Sporting KC, Atlanta United, Toronto and Orlando City.
Messi played 120 minutes against Cincinnati on Wednesday night and produced a sensational finishing cross for Leonardo Campana’s equalizer in stoppage time.
He then scored his penalty as Miami prevailed in the resulting shootout.
In last weekend’s Leagues Cup final, the Barcelona legend also played two hours of football before Inter triumphed again on penalties.