September 29th 2024.
At the end of the game, Messi couldn't hide his disappointment. He expressed his frustration towards the referee in a fiery outburst, following a controversial decision that denied Inter Miami a late penalty in their intense MLS match against Charlotte.
It was a tough game for Inter, as they were held to a 1-1 draw at their home ground, Chase Stadium, for the third consecutive time. Charlotte took the lead just before the hour mark through Karol Swiderski, but Messi managed to level the score with a magnificent curling shot from outside the box.
As the game was approaching its end, Inter came close to securing a win with some impressive teamwork from three former Barcelona players. Messi's perfectly placed lofted ball was met by Jordi Alba, who headed it across to another Camp Nou legend, Luis Suarez. Unfortunately, Suarez's shot went over the bar and he also took a tumble after colliding with Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.
Messi strongly believed that his team deserved a penalty for the incident and he didn't hold back in expressing his displeasure towards the referee. He was caught on camera berating the official and his assistants, resulting in a yellow card. However, he managed to escape further punishment despite using some harsh language towards the referee.
Despite losing his cool in the heat of the moment, Messi's earlier goal was his 15th in just 16 league games this season, maintaining Inter's unbeaten streak of eight matches in the Major League Soccer. With a victory over Colombus on Wednesday, Inter will secure the top spot in the MLS Cup play-offs.
After missing two months due to an ankle injury sustained during the Copa America final against Colombia, Messi returned to action in September. His coach, Gerardo Martino, believes that as he continues to play 90 minutes, he will only get better. Tata also mentioned that Messi doesn't require any separate physical training, but he needs to maintain his competitive rhythm through regular game time.
As the playoffs approach, Tata is confident that Messi will be in top form, considering he has not only been playing regularly for Inter, but also for the Argentine National Team.
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