Lionel Messi’s Workload Worries Mascherano After Miami Win

Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday night, yet the Argentine icon’s relentless schedule is starting to ring alarm bells inside the Herons’ camp. With the win, Miami surged to 35 points from 18 MLS fixtures, three games fewer than several Eastern Conference rivals, but Messi’s minutes keep piling up.

Lionel Messi’s relentless schedule in focus

Javier Mascherano, serving as assistant to head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino while also fronting Miami’s youth setup, acknowledged after the final whistle that the club “needs to find time to rest him.” The statement carried extra weight considering Messi has now rattled in 54 goals since arriving in South Florida last July, 14 of them in league play this term alone.

Mascherano knows better than most how Messi’s workload can snowball. Both men shared dressing rooms for Argentina and Barcelona, where balancing brilliance with burnout was a constant challenge. “At 36, recovery takes longer,” Mascherano cautioned. “We can’t risk losing him in the decisive months.”

How Messi powered the latest win

The Revolution rode a boisterous Gillette Stadium crowd early, but Messi’s guile soon settled Miami. In the 28th minute he threaded a no-look through-ball to Luis Suárez, whose cutback was tapped home by Benjamin Cremaschi. Seven minutes later, Messi doubled the lead himself, curling a trademark left-footed strike beyond keeper Aljaž Ivačič.

New England halved the deficit after the break through Tomás Chancalay, yet any hopes of a comeback were buried when Messi converted a late penalty earned by Jordi Alba’s surging run. The brace kept Messi atop the MLS Golden Boot race and underscored his status as the league’s headline act—an act Miami admits it must occasionally bench for its own good.

Minutes piling up across competitions

Since February, Lionel Messi has logged 1,860 competitive minutes—spanning MLS, CONCACAF Champions Cup, U.S. Open Cup, and several high-profile friendlies demanded by global sponsors. He also squeezed in two full World Cup qualifiers for Argentina. While Martino rotates most outfield players, he has hesitated to sideline his talisman, a habit Mascherano suggests must change.

The calendar does Messi no favors. Miami face Nashville SC in midweek before hosting an energized Orlando City. Then comes a trip to Mexico for the Champions Cup semifinal first leg, followed by an away date in Cincinnati. “We have to be strategic,” Mascherano insisted. “There will be matches where his presence from the bench might be smarter.”

Comparing workloads around MLS

By matchday 18, only Columbus maestro Darlington Nagl e and LAFC’s Denis Bouanga have approached Messi’s blend of minutes and attacking output. Yet neither shoulders the same media duties, commercial appearances, or cross-continental flights. Sports science staff at DRV PNK Stadium reportedly recommend Messi limit consecutive 90-minute outings to two, but the directive collided with Miami’s early-season injury crisis that sidelined Suárez, Alba, and Federico Redondo.

Now, with a healthier squad and searing summer temperatures looming, Martino has the roster depth to rotate without torpedoing results. Teenagers David Ruiz and Lawson Sunderland are pushing for midfield minutes, and Ecuadorian winger Leonardo Campana can deputize up front, freeing Messi to monitor the rhythm from the touchline.

What a controlled schedule could mean for Inter Miami

Securing first place in the Supporters’ Shield race remains a realistic aim. Miami’s 35-point haul from 18 matches equals their entire 2023 total, while three games in hand give them a clear runway toward a high playoff seed. Protecting Lionel Messi is therefore both a sporting and commercial imperative: a rested superstar in autumn could spearhead a treble bid across MLS Cup, Champions Cup, and Leagues Cup.

Mascherano’s comments also signal a culture shift. Rather than lean on Messi to mask deficiencies, Miami aspire to evolve into a multifaceted unit where the likes of Suárez, Diego Gómez, and Facundo Farías assume greater creative responsibility. That evolution may accelerate if rotation plans unfold as hinted.

Upcoming fixtures at a glance

• 19 June – vs Nashville SC (MLS, home)
• 23 June – at Orlando City (MLS)
• 26 June – at CF Monterrey (Champions Cup, SF Leg 1)
• 29 June – at FC Cincinnati (MLS)
• 3 July – vs Austin FC (MLS)

A cluster of four away trips in 14 days underscores why Mascherano spoke out now. Travel fatigue can sap even youthful legs; for a 36-year-old who rarely walks a city block unaccompanied by cameras, the strain multiplies.

Can Miami manage Lionel Messi and still win?

History offers precedent. Toronto FC famously rested Sebastian Giovinco during its 2017 travel grind and went on to capture MLS Cup. Seattle eased Nicolás Lodeiro through a hamstring scare in 2019 and lifted silverware. Miami’s depth is arguably deeper than either of those rosters, provided Martino trusts it.

For supporters who bought tickets months in advance, the prospect of a Messi cameo rather than a full 90 may sting, but empty-handed Octobers would sting far worse. Miami’s hierarchy must strike a delicate balance between spectacle and sustainability.

Stat box

• Club goals: 54 (all competitions)
• 2024 MLS goals: 14 (first in league)
• Matches played since Feb: 21
• Average minutes per match: 88.5
• Team points: 35 from 18 games (1st in East)

Mascherano’s final word

“We want Lionel Messi at his best when trophies are decided,” Mascherano reiterated, echoing a message that will dominate Inter Miami’s summer strategy meetings. “That means sometimes we have to win without him.”

Opinion: Rotating a living legend is never straightforward, but Miami’s ambitions demand it. Sacrifice a few regular-season fireworks now and the Herons could unleash a fresher Lionel Messi when knockout matches arrive—a trade-off any title contender should gladly make.