FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi raised his hands as he left the pitch, thanking fans who traveled near and far, for Inter Miami’s final match of the preseason Thursday against his childhood club from Argentina.
Messi did not score, missing a free kick and another opportunity where he charged the net between several defenders in 60 minutes of action in Thursday night’s 1-1 draw against Newell’s Old Boys.
The good news: Messi appears fully healthy. He ran hard and fast, with purpose and vigor, dribbling between defenders with his foot all the way on the gas pedal. It did not appear Messi was hampered by the hip adductor injury that caused outraged in Hong Kong earlier this month because he sat out a friendly.
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said Messi felt fine after exiting the match, and believes Messi is “completely recovered.”
Martino said the plan was for Messi to play 45 minutes, but he ended up playing 57 minutes against Newell’s. Messi’s play nearly doubled from his last outing in Tokyo, where he played in the final 30 minutes. The hope is he can continue ramping up in the final days before the season begins next Wednesday.
When does Inter Miami’s season begin?
Messi and Inter Miami will play the first game of the 2024 MLS season Feb. 21 at home against Real Salt Lake, and will travel to face the Los Angeles Galaxy on Feb. 25.
How did Messi fare against Newell’s?
You could tell from Messi still has a little rust to shake off before the 2024 MLS season begins for Inter Miami in six days from his two best opportunities to send fans home with a highlight play that didn’t come to fruition.
Messi missed on a free kick, just outside the left side of the net in the 37th minute. His kick just didn’t have enough bend fans are used to seeing from him on some of the best highlights of his career in the same scenario.
Messi also missed a shot after surging charge between defenders toward the net in the 31st minute, as his kick also missed wide left.
Messi typically does not miss opportunities like that often – unless he’s injured or coming off a significant layoff.
Messi left the pitch in the 60th minute, with a young fan running onto the pitch in attempt to get close to him before being met by security and escorted away.
Red and black jerseys of Newell’s Old Boys – the Argentine club where Messi first played with when he was 6 years old – joined Argentine and Inter Miami jerseys in the stands at DRV PNK Stadium.
Inter Miami’s Shanyder Borgelin scored a header in the 65th minute, while Newell’s Franco Díaz scored in the 83rd minute to tie the match.
Inter Miami finished its globetrotting preseason with one win, two ties and four defeats (one of which in a penalty shootout). Messi scored one goal among eight for Inter Miami, while the club conceded 13 goals in the preseason.
Franco Díaz scores goal Newell’s Old Boys: Inter Miami 1, Newell’s 1
Newell’s fans have reason to cheer up and down in the stands: Franco Díaz, 23, scored in the 83rd minute to tie this match at 1.
It wasn’t the best defense by Inter Miami goalie Drake Callendar, and there’s nine minutes left in the match before extra time.
Shanyder Borgelin goal: Inter Miami 1, Newell’s 0
Inter Miami’s Shanyder Borgelin scored a header in the 65th minute to give his side a 1-0 lead in the match.
Borgelin rose above a Newell’s defender and connected with the ball off a corner kick just minutes after Messi came off the pitch.
Messi and Suarez come off in the 60th minute: Inter Miami 0, Newell’s 0
Lionel Messi raised his hands in the air and clapped to fans in his new home stadium. Messi came off the pitch in the 60th minute, and his night his over.
Luis Suárez and Julian Gressel also exited the match for Inter Miami.
While Inter Miami’s players have 30 minutes until the preseason ends.
Messi misses free kick in 37’: Inter Miami 0, Newell’s 0
Lionel Messi lined up for a free kick just within his range, but he still has some slight rust to shake off.
Messi missed his attempt, just outside the left side of the net.
It didn’t quite have the bend Messi’s most popular free kicks have had that entered the back of the net.
Messi misses shot in 31’: Inter Miami 0, Newell’s 0
Messi had a full head of steam and got into position. But his left foot missed just outside the left side of the net.
Fans in the stadium rose to their feet anticipating the highlight moment, but let down after Messi’s miss.
Still, Messi’s health should no longer be a question after that sequence, where he shifted between several defenders to get his shot attempt off with ease.
No foul on Luis Suárez after VAR: Inter Miami 0, Newell’s 0
Luis Suárez was demonstrative after a contest in the goal area, but video review showed there was no penalty at all.
“After review, the decision on the field is still no penalty,” the referee said as VAR decisions will be announced by officials on the pitch during the 2024 MLS season.
While the play was under video review, Messi had a lengthy conversation with the Newell’s goalie.
Messi with two passes to Gomez in 11’ and 15’: Inter Miami 0, Newell’s 0
Lionel Messi appears as close to 100 percent healthy from the hip adductor injury he experienced earlier this month in Asia.
Messi is running hard and fast, and choosing his moments to affect the match.
Messi had an opportunity for an assist in open field in front of the penalty area, but the Newell’s defense converged before Diego Gomez could make a play on the ball or the net in the 11th minute.
About four minutes later, Messi had another chance to find Gomez in the penalty box, but the defender deflected the ball away. Gomez was also offside.
Nicolás Freire nearly scores goal: Inter Miami 0, Newell’s 0
Inter Miami’s Nicolás Freire nearly scored in the second minute of the match, his first with the club since his signing was made official on Jan. 23.
The Argentine national missed a header that barely missed the right side of the net.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez in Inter Miami’s starting lineup
Lionel Messi is in Inter Miami’s starting lineup, as expected for tonight’s match against his former team.
So, is Luis Suárez, who did experience some knee discomfort during Inter Miami’s preseason tour.
Here are the lineups for both sides:
How much will Messi play?
Messi is expected to start in Thursday’s match and could see some extended minutes with Inter Miami’s season opener only six days away, Martino said.
After a groin injury sidelined Messi for a match in Hong Kong earlier this month, causing outrage among fans and officials in China, he returned to action in Tokyo to play 30 minutes against Japanese champions Vissel Kobe and he appeared close to full strength.
“If everything goes as it is going, [Messi] will be in good shape for the beginning of the season,” Martino said.
What did Messi say about his injury?
Messi, during a rare news conference in Tokyo Feb. 6, said he had a hip adductor injury he suffered while in Saudi Arabia for two matches Jan. 29 and 31. Although an MRI found no injury, Messi said he still experienced discomfort.
“Unfortunately, it is something that happens in football, in any game it can happen that we get injured. It happened to me and I couldn’t be in the game in Hong Kong, and it’s a shame because I always want to participate, I want to be there, and even more so when it comes to these types of games where we traveled so far and people were so excited to watch us play,” Messi said.
Lionel Messi injury timeline: What led to Messi’s hip adductor injury?
∎Jan. 29: Messi scored on a penalty kick and played to the 88th minute against Saudi powerhouse Al Hilal, where he first experienced the injury.
∎Jan. 31: Messi practiced with Inter Miami, one day before Al Nassr match, leading to the MRI evaluation.
∎Feb. 1: Messi did not start, but came on as a substitute against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. He entered in the 83rd minute and played through six minutes of extra time conservatively.
∎Feb. 3: Messi ran around Hong Kong Stadium and participated in some light workouts with Inter Miami teammates.
∎Feb. 4: Messi was listed as a substitute on Inter Miami’s roster for the Hong Kong match, but Inter Miami did not list him on their roster published on social media. He did not play.
∎Feb. 6: Messi shares he has a hip adductor injury and experienced discomfort. Messi said the injury was an ‘unlucky’ situation, and hopes to play again in Hong Kong if the opportunity arises.
∎Feb. 7: Messi entered in the 60th minute and played to the end of Inter Miami’s match against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, and appeared close to full strength.
