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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Hectic start to 2024 campaign for Herons</li><li>Rotation essential amid so many fixtures</li><li>All-time great was in need of a breather</li></ul>

Was Lionel Messi injured or rested? Inter Miami boss Tata Martino explains Argentine’s absence in frustrating MLS defeat to Montreal

<p>The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had been listed as questionable ahead of the game, with the Argentine superstar said to be nursing a slight knock. Having seen his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/slap-in-face-angry-lionel-messi-fans-hong-kong-offered-50-refund-inter-miami-superstar-no-show-controversial-friendly/blt261a7cbf97032995" target="_blank">pre-season disrupted by fitness issues</a>, no chances are being taken on the 36-year-old forward during <a href="https://www.goal.com/lists/tired-lionel-messi-rested-inter-miami-tata-martino-update-fitness-four-games-16-days/blt2d4b4b7773d8099c" target="_blank">a hectic start to the 2024 campaign</a>.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72px; height: 40px;"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Stream games now</a></div>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>With that in mind, the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lionel-messi-antonella-roccuzzo-inter-miami-argentine-misses-cf-montreal-clash-to-injury/blt024a2ed491805b11" target="_blank">decision was taken to rotate Messi out of a 3-2 loss to Montreal</a>. Quizzed on that decision afterwards, Martino said: “We discussed this about a week ago. We agreed that this was the game he should rest, independent of what happened in the game against Nashville.”</p><p>Martino added, with Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets also benched on the back of a 2-2 CONCACAF Champions Cup draw with Nashville: “(The media) asked 10 days ago if I planned to rotate; we rotated.”</p>

WHAT MARTINO SAID ABOUT MESSI

<p>On the game itself, which saw <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/inter-miami-lionel-messi-cf-montreal/blt679116f456d20199" target="_blank">Inter Miami suffer their first defeat of the season</a>, Martino said of the defensive frailties that led to his team coming unstuck: “I thought we deserved to win the game. What concerns me is that we are a team that doesn’t defend with intensity in the important moments, be they in transition or on set pieces. We did not have a good start. The first 10 to 15 minutes were poor, and the truth is our opponent got two easy goals. It was a game we could have won and had enough (talent) to win.” </p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Leonardo Campana and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/jordi-alba-ionel-messi-inter-miami-cf-montreal/bltf0e1b568b5a9eb75" target="_blank">Jordi Alba scored the Herons’ goals</a>, but their efforts were not enough to salvage something from the game. Inter Miami, who are <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/trophy-lionel-messi-inter-miami-quadruple-usmnt-luis-suarez-sergio-busquets-jordi-alba/bltadf1dd39b3c25c14" target="_blank">competing on four fronts this season</a>, will be back in action on Wednesday when taking in the second leg of their continental last-16 encounter with Nashville.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

Was Lionel Messi injured or rested? Inter Miami boss Tata Martino explains Argentine’s absence in frustrating MLS defeat to Montreal | Goal.com Cameroon

Tata Martino has explained why Lionel Messi sat out Inter Miami’s defeat to Montreal, with questions asked of whether he was injured or rested.