In a surprising turn of events, Inter Miami faced their first defeat since the arrival of global football icon Lionel Messi earlier this summer. The decision to rest Messi, made by the team management, proved costly as they endured a 5-2 loss to Atlanta United in a Major League Soccer (MLS) match.
Lionel Messi, known for his exceptional performances, was given a break by Inter Miami’s coaching staff. This decision raised eyebrows as the team struggled in his absence, ultimately succumbing to defeat at the hands of Atlanta United.
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What added a unique twist to this story was a reference made by Atlanta United to Lionel Messi’s recent choice of pizza. Lionel Messi shared a picture of his pizza from Bancheros, a renowned restaurant in Miami. The image created a buzz as Messi opted for a pizza with a base covered in chopped tomatoes, onions, and olives.
Following their victory against Inter Miami, Atlanta United posted a picture of a similar pizza, but with a clever twist – fewer tomatoes were arranged in the shape of an ‘L,’ symbolizing the Herons’ loss. The caption playfully read, “Here you have your pizza for the trip.”
Acá tienen su pizza para el viaje 🍕✌️ pic.twitter.com/qwKrWTHCHt
— Atlanta United Fútbol Club (@VamosATLUTD) September 16, 2023
Why Lionel Messi Did Not Play Against Atlanta United
Lionel Messi’s absence from the match in Atlanta was due to his prior international commitments with Argentina in the World Cup Qualifiers. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner had made a significant impact in Argentina’s opening World Cup qualifier, scoring a crucial goal that secured a 1-0 victory against Ecuador. However, he did not participate in Argentina’s subsequent World Cup qualifying fixture against Bolivia in La Paz, a game that Argentina comfortably won with a 3-0 scoreline.
Apart from Lionel Messi, Inter Miami was also without the services of his former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba, who was sidelined due to injury concerns. Inter Miami’s coach, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, explained that resting some key players, including Messi and Alba, was necessary with crucial league matches and the US Open Cup final on the horizon.
Martino elaborated, “We risked worse consequences if they came to play this game. It has nothing to do with the (artificial) surface. Sometimes it is difficult to make decisions because these are also decisive matches, but there is a final on the 27th.”
The match itself saw Inter Miami’s Ecuadorian striker, Leonardo Campana, open the scoring in the 25th minute. However, Atlanta United staged a remarkable comeback, scoring three goals in just eight minutes. Although Inter Miami started the second half positively and managed to pull a goal back in the 54th minute, they ultimately conceded two more goals, resulting in a disappointing 5-2 loss.
The defeat leaves Inter Miami languishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings in MLS. With six points separating them from D.C. United, who currently hold the last playoff spot in the ninth position, Inter Miami faces an uphill battle to secure a playoff berth.
