Despite injury discomfort, Inter Miami star Lionel Messi came off the bench Thursday to give Saudi Arabian supporters one more chance to see him play.
That is the only reasonable explanation for Messi's appearance in the final 14 minutes of Inter Miami's 6-0 loss against Al Nassr at Kingdom Arena in the Riyadh Season Cup in Saudi Arabia, after initially being ruled out of the starting lineup due to injury.
Messi was initially anticipated to miss the game due to soreness after Monday's match against Al Hilal and Wednesday's training session in Saudi Arabia, prompting him to have an MRI as a precaution. Messi was added to Inter Miami's starting lineup and sat on the bench as an available substitute until coming on in the 83rd minute.
During his limited playing time, Messi used his judgement. In the 86th minute, he attempted one shot inside the penalty area, but it was deflected by an Al Nassr defender. He also had two kicks to move the ball farther up the pitch.
Aside from that, Messi dribbled the ball when defenders neared him and made fast passes to teammates. He didn't do any jogging beyond a modest jog.
Tata Martino, Inter Miami's coach, seemed to speak with a referee after the final whistle to complain about the six minutes of extra time. However, he has more pressing concerns following Inter Miami's 6-0 setback.
It was meant to be "The Last Dance" between Messi and Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo, but Ronaldo was ruled out Wednesday with a calf injury.
While none of soccer's greatest talents was in peak form, viewers did get to witness Messi finish the game. In contrast, Ronaldo clapped from his suite seat as Al Nassr scored three goals in the first 12 minutes.
Talisca scored a hat trick, and Otávio, Laporte, and Mohammed Maran all scored for Al Nassr.
It is uncertain how much Messi will play as Inter Miami begins their global preseason tour, which includes games in Hong Kong on February 4 at 3 a.m. ET and Tokyo on February 8 at 5 a.m. ET.
Lionel Messi enters the 83rd minute for Inter Miami against. Al Nassr.
Lionel Messi entered the match with at least seven minutes remaining.
Messi arrives in the 83rd minute for one final sequence in Saudi Arabia.
The audience erupted when he made his first touch, a kick from one half of the pitch to the other.
Talisca hat trick: Al Nassr 6, Inter Miami 0.
Talisca of Al Nassr scores a hat trick in this one.
Talisca was streaking down the middle of the pitch when he received a pass in stride, and his left boot reached the back of the net again in the 73rd minute following a video replay.
Inter Miami is down 6-0, and Messi was warming up briefly. However, it would be surprising if he entered this one.
Lionel Messi warms up during the second half.
Fans at Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia erupted when Lionel Messi rose from the bench to warm up his legs on the sideline.
It's unclear whether Messi will play, despite Inter Miami's desire to keep him out of this match as a precaution.
If Messi does play, he will appear in the last 20 minutes of the game.
Mohammed Maran's goal: Al Nassr 5, Inter Miami 0.
Mohammed Maran of Al Nassr scored a spectacular header in the 68th minute, giving his team a 5-0 lead.
The good news for Saudi fans is that Lionel Messi has stood up to stretch and warm up as a potential substitute.
Inter Miami misses chances in the second half: Al Nassr 4–Inter Miami 0.
Luis Suárez missed a shot on goal in the 60th minute as Al Nassr custodian Waleed Abdullah deflected it. Suárez even shook Abdullah's hand following the sequence.
Three minutes later, Leo Campana missed high in the 63rd minute.
Inter Miami is simply having one of those days.
Al Nassr 4, Inter Miami 0 via Talisca's penalty shot.
Drake Callendar, the Inter Miami custodian, received a penalty for a diving contest in the penalty area.
Al Nassr's Talisca punished him with a goal on the next penalty kick, his second of the game.
Despite the fact that it is preseason, Inter Miami's 4-0 deficit is by far the greatest in Messi's career.
Halftime score: Al Nassr 3, Inter Miami 0.
Cristiano Ronaldo has had numerous celebrations, whilst Lionel Messi seemed concerned.
It was intended to be a battle between soccer's biggest talents. Instead, they are both spectators in this one.
Al Nassr scored three goals in the first 12 minutes and led 3-0 at halftime against Inter Miami in Thursday's Riyadh Season Cup match in Saudi Arabia.
Messi is watching from the bench and is not anticipated to play, despite being named on Inter Miami's squad as an available substitution.
Messi experienced difficulty following Inter Miami's encounter against Al Hilal on Monday and throughout Wednesday's training session. He is being held out as a precaution.
Ronaldo was ruled out on Wednesday with a calf issue.
Otávio scored in the third minute, Talisca in the tenth, and Laporte in the twelfth for Al Nassr. Laporte's strike from 75 yards out, with Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callendar roaming far from the net, was the game's highlight.
Luis Suárez had a shot on goal, Leo Campana missed two chances, and David Ruiz, who spurred Inter Miami's comeback against Al Hilal on Tuesday, also missed a first-half opportunity.
Stay tuned for further reports.
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