Fatigue Forces Lionel Messi's Substitution in Inter Miami's Win Over Toronto FC

[{"selector":"#anim-3966bca2-25cf-448a-8f8d-a7b251dcb32f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(27.96874986631523%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e10aa15-b65e-4ff2-ad66-2fbba58c0cef","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.23810%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1edcbb85-d24b-41aa-819b-21611f90dbf8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f360e63-36c9-49c1-810a-016375307e58","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Credit: Unsplash

[{"selector":"#anim-b955143c-ed3a-43bf-8422-c901f4db87ea [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19.438243862171493%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fcff6fd6-238c-4813-85e1-6f5144f153db","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4bc1513d-a036-4723-8b4f-e09ba96e2274","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 148.23427%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Unsplash Lionel Messi was substituted due to muscle fatigue in the 37th minute of Inter Miami CF's 4-0 victory over Toronto FC on Wednesday.

[{"selector":"#anim-22253ff7-7747-4fcb-af58-7c8ed2032cde [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(27.96874986631523%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab9b752b-0df7-4f4b-a6e3-f7715aab336d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10bf8acd-5e68-4e1e-8092-5f023ad02a0c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 165.28853%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Unsplash Messi's former Barcelona teammate, Jordi Alba, also left the field around the same time due to physical discomfort.

[{"selector":"#anim-ab0951a3-d22d-4400-a6ff-050efe541c4f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19.438243862171493%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64034a9d-40bf-4a0c-9dad-4fa76be04461","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32b52d08-b66e-4fd7-9d28-4e55befc6bda","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 142.53125%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Unsplash Inter Miami's coach, Gerardo Martino, stated that neither Messi nor Alba would be available for the upcoming match against Orlando City on Sunday.

[{"selector":"#anim-6663aad1-be60-4ccc-84d8-309b3ce5524b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.179687404002955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2e26000-dff7-45f1-9652-c94dcc297e51","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e511600-7c44-468d-9185-d136d81ccfd6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 130.56967%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Unsplash The reason for their substitution was described as fatigue, and Martino emphasized that they wouldn't play unless fully fit for the U.S. Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo the following Wednesday.

[{"selector":"#anim-ccca7246-1f29-455b-8bd0-bbe1467d61d0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(27.96874986631523%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6718a428-35c4-43d3-a9c3-ae1fea2182ae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-19c062bc-370b-487e-98d3-f040ad6ea633","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.26984%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Unsplash Although Messi and Alba appeared physically fine before the match, they seemed to experience discomfort during play, prompting their substitutions.

[{"selector":"#anim-05d47f82-bf68-4b63-83a2-0d7ac2382b23 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.24842266548937%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6fef78d7-20e7-4c2f-b793-ff606c295665","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7991260-6d1c-4caa-991f-5d086ace3d5b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 180.79237%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Unsplash Martino mentioned that both players had trained normally and didn't seem to have suffered new muscular injuries.

[{"selector":"#anim-6b244ab4-11b5-424c-8557-401912ee4c11 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(27.96874986631523%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f26ae499-d2e7-41e6-8a77-f5491dacda76","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6ed21cf-4f86-488d-9497-f80751f06c24","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 156.76137%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Unsplash Messi had previously missed two matches, one for his club and one for Argentina's national team, due to physical issues.

[{"selector":"#anim-64d19a3f-9901-4867-9179-efce2200bdad [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.736379520737714%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-069542e7-aa49-4600-be3f-92f6529e4f33","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-768f5794-034e-46d2-a76c-c6eea91e95a3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 151.33505%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Unsplash Inter Miami faced a tight schedule with six matches in 17 days, including crucial fixtures for their playoff ambitions.

[{"selector":"#anim-75c690a1-def0-487b-a5ab-9f95bc5cbe40 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.816471079812834%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2c1cdd4-1121-4f37-82ba-422f3c3ee9c0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8fc63bfb-d193-45e7-bbc5-cdc6400833c1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 154.45177%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Unsplash Despite the win, Inter Miami remained five points behind D.C. United for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with two games in hand.

[{"selector":"#anim-1177333d-d3c0-432d-bd86-fc008cc68a09 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19.438243862171493%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c3aa25f-6fc3-4896-97ef-ea807316fd4c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11bfc0f3-7bf5-4e68-b6d6-6d95fd74dd49","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 134.41271%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credit: Unsplash Before his substitution, Messi had an impressive record with 11 goals and five assists in 11 appearances for Inter Miami, including contributions in MLS matches.

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