After Lionel Messi Fired Blank, Tata Martino Admits the Argentine Wasn’t the Best in Inter Miami’s Late Victory Against DC United

Things weren’t at their best for Inter Miami, but they managed to find their mojo again. Moments ago, the Herons clinched a narrow victory against DC United. While star player Lionel Messi returned to the starting XI, it was youngster Benjamin Cremaschi who took the spotlight by scoring a last-minute winner. However, Messi not only failed to get his name on the scoresheet but also missed out on Tata Martino’s praise for players who ‘stood out well‘ in today’s win.

In the post-match presser, the former River Plate boss was asked to contemplate on tonight’s hard-fought win at Chase Stadium. As compiled by @InterMiamiZone on X, Martino said, “The team was worn out, we didn’t play the way we wanted, there was the rain and the opponent made it even more difficult, it was a tough game, but we got the 3 points, which is what matters most.”

When asked who impressed on the pitch, Martino shockingly gave a cold shoulder to La Pulga and said, “In my opinion, [Tomas] Aviles and [Sergio] Busquets were the best on the field, they stood out well.” It seems the Miami boss wasn’t impressed with the lack of Messi’s impact. Notably, the 36-year-old returned to the starting XI after being sidelined by a knee injury sustained during a 2-3 victory against Montreal. This injury forced him to miss the previous match against Orlando City, which ended in a stalemate. 

Thankfully, his presence on the pitch alone proved lucky for Miami, as they clinched a victory. Perhaps the skipper may return to his scoring ways in the next fixture. For now, both fans and the manager shall cut some slack for Messi, who was forced to play in a condition he never experienced before. 

Lionel Messi finally gets a hurricane welcome at Inter Miami

Tonight’s match was delayed just before kickoff due to a hurricane. Although the game eventually resumed, the storm returned, and the referee decided to continue play. This left Lionel Messi and his teammates struggling against strong winds and heavy rain. Remarkably, this was the first time in his two-decade career that Messi played in the midst of a hurricane. Talk about a cold rainy night in Stoke now!

Everyone on the pitch was drenched, their jerseys soaked through. At one point, Messi lined up for a free kick, hoping to secure a winner for the Florida side. Unfortunately, the Barcelona icon’s attempt struck DC United’s defensive wall due to heavy winds. Despite the challenges of playing in such adverse conditions, Miami managed to find a winner, extending their lead in the Eastern Conference table.