The reason why Lionel Messi wouldn't play this weekend against NY Red Bulls

Lionel Messi, the 36 year old player, has been on the field for the entire duration of Miami's last six matches. During Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup semifinal triumph over FC Cincinnati, the effects of fatigue were evident at times, especially since the game extended to the full 120 minutes.

Despite this, Messi managed to contribute significantly, providing two assists and successfully converting the opening kick in the penalty shootout that secured victory. Following the match, the team directly traveled from Ohio to New York. Upon their arrival on Thursday, a recovery session was organized at the hotel. They were scheduled to engage in a light practice session on Friday at Red Bull Arena.

“This will happen at least three times this year, and next year more,” Martino commented on the possibility of giving Messi a break, either for an entire match or part of one."We will have to find a solution." Finding a resolution won't be an easy task, given that the experienced coach has leaned heavily on Messi since his arrival. The World Cup champion has surpassed all predictions, delivering an impressive tally of 10 goals and three assists in just eight outings.

Furthermore, considering that Miami currently sits at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference, trailing by 14 points from the last playoff position, Martino is undoubtedly aware that he'll have to use Messi extensively for the remainder of the season.

What is Martino's opinion regarding the potential discontent of the fans due to the decision of benching Messi?

On Friday, the ex-coach of the Mexican national team and Barcelona emphasized that he won't allow himself to be distracted by external opinions concerning the opinions of keeping his superstar on the bench. "I understand the expectations the rest of the world has to watch him, and that is undeniable," Martino said. "But I cannot act based on that, because then I would risk doing things wrong." Incorrectly managing this situation would entail overexerting Messi and putting the star player at risk of injury.