Inter Miami’s captain, Lionel Messi, was put in a bit of a bind after a thrilling 3-3 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes. The confrontation reportedly came after the match when Messi confronted his own team’s referee after the final whistle had blown. His frustrations came to a head after a late tackle on him. He thought it definitely should have been called a foul, only the referee didn’t blow his whistle.
During the match, Messi displayed visible signs of frustration, particularly after being tackled just outside the box without receiving a penalty. After a furious exchange with the head referee on no-call, his emotions had gotten the best of him. The referee’s response, advising him to “walk away now,” did little to quell Messi’s agitation.
Luckily for the tender-footed MVP, Bruce Arena was there. The head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes wasted no time in squashing this brewing firestorm. Arena understood the role of Messi’s frustration and mobilized to protect his opponent during the match.
“He was obviously not happy, and I wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to get a red card,” – Bruce Arena
Messi’s behavior and possibility of a straight red hung over the game as tempers started to flare. Thanks to Arena’s intervention, Messi was spared any additional punishment.
It wasn’t without a test, though, as Inter Miami was pushed to the limit against the San Jose Earthquakes. This after being horrendously thrashed 4-1 by Minnesota United. Since that loss, Messi’s team has recorded one victory, one loss, and one tie in their last three games, including the draw against San Jose. Left to right, goals from teammates Maximiliano Falcón and Tadeo Allende earned The Boys in Gold a hard-fought road point @sdloons 1-1.
Lionel Messi will be cleared to play in Inter Miami’s next match. See him in action as the Sounders take on Orlando City on May 18 at Chase Stadium! The team has been languishing in recent weeks, having been knocked out of the Concacaf Champions Cup by fellow Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps in the semifinals. Messi and co. are under increasing pressure to raise their level of play. They’ve managed just one victory since their April 30 knockout tie.
As a captain, Messi is strong in his own right. As Inter Miami continue to navigate this challenging stretch of the season, his presence on the field will be key. Their next home match against Orlando City will be an important opportunity for Messi to really show off. He’ll have his team primed to pursue a critically important victory.
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