Lionel Messi WILL play in Inter Miami’s US Open Cup semifinal, confirms head coach Tata Martino
- Lionel Messi has enjoyed a victorious whirlwind start to life with Inter Miami
- The 36-year-old scored 10 goals in seven games during the Leagues Cup run
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Inter Miami head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino told reporters that Lionel Messi will play in the US Open Cup game against Cincinnati on Wednesday.
Fresh off its victory in the Leagues Cup Saturday, Inter Miami – and Messi – will be back in action in the US Open semifinal against FC Cincinnati.
Martino told reporters that Messi will be available to play in the clash against the Eastern Conference leaders but did admit that he will have to rest the World Cup winner at some point after his whirlwind start to life in Miami.
‘We said that at some point he would have to rest because of the load of minutes played,’ Martino said before practice on Monday.
‘Clearly, Wednesday is not going to be that day. If he does not tell me he wants to rest, he will continue to play.’
Miami head coach ‘Tata’ Martino confirmed Lionel Messi will play against Cincinnati on Wed.
![The 36-year-old is still however set to be rested at 'some point' following the Leagues Cup](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/22/02/74577977-12430921-The_36_year_old_is_still_however_set_to_be_rested_at_some_point_-a-9_1692666059282.jpg)
The 36-year-old is still however set to be rested at ‘some point’ following the Leagues Cup
![Messi was in tremendous form throughout the cup run and scored 10 goals in seven games](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/22/02/74578019-12430921-Messi_was_in_tremendous_form_throughout_the_cup_run_and_scored_1-a-10_1692666059284.jpg)
Messi was in tremendous form throughout the cup run and scored 10 goals in seven games
Messi has been in tremendous form since debuting for Miami and has already scored 10 goals in just seven games.
His goal output became one of the fundamental reasons Miami were able to go on a surprising run to the final.
‘We didn’t think we would be so competitive at this tournament because our team was still under construction,’ Martino said.
‘But, well, we ended up competing and winning and that has made us very happy and optimistic for what is to come.’
But, while Messi appears to be a lock-in for the starting XI Wednesday, he and his 36-year-old legs have a lot more to come.
The Herons will also try to resurrect a season that has landed Miami at the bottom of the standings in Major League Soccer with the team returning to league action against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
Miami’s record currently sits at a pitiful 5-3-14 for only 18 points in the league.
Messi appears to have well and truly embraced his new life in Miami, sharing a touching moment with one of his teammates following Leagues Cup victory.
Cameras captured the moment Messi humbly handed DeAndre Yedlin the captain’s armband and instructed him to lift the trophy.
![Messi gave DeAndre Yedlin (R) the armband and told him to lift the Leagues Cup trophy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/22/02/74517431-12430921-Lionel_Messi_gave_DeAndre_Yedlin_R_the_armband_and_told_him_to_l-a-11_1692667485925.jpg)
Messi gave DeAndre Yedlin (R) the armband and told him to lift the Leagues Cup trophy
Yedlin had worn the armband for Miami before Messi made his blockbuster move earlier this summer.
But Martino claimed that it wasn’t the first time Messi had made a touching gesture with his new teammates.
‘This is not the first time that he has made this type of gesture,’ Martino said. ‘This is the reason why when people say he is the best player in the world, it is not only because of what he does on pitch during a match.
‘The same thing happens at training, with him and also with Jordi Alba; they get the younger players together to explain the work and the goals. That really helps the team prepare more quickly.’
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