'Someone who transcends the sport' - Inter Miami must manage Lionel Messi's minutes to maximize effectiveness of eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and make push for MLS Cup

At half time, Rodrigo De Paul sprinted to Lionel Messi's locker. There sat Messi, relaxed, disappointed - but assured. De Paul and Miami, meanwhile, were reaching the point of existential terror. Messi had gone off injured in the 11th minute of their Leagues Cup fixture with Necaxa.

He was able to walk off without help, but uncertainty about his status was rife.

"I can't even describe to you how I felt when I saw him go down like that. Everyone knows he's not just a player, he's the soul of the team, the soul of the whole football," De Paul said after the game.

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Messi assured him in the locker room. There was no rip, tear or pop. Instead, Messi had felt a tweak - what Javier Mascherano described as "discomfort." Still, De Paul's existential dread pointed to what might yet be a larger problem for Miami here. Messi is 38, he will need to miss games.

Messi trained alongside his teammates on Wednesday in a session open to the media, signaling that his return to the field is near after missing two matches due to a muscle injury sustained in the match against Necaxa. Messi could return as early as Saturday against LA Galaxy, although Miami coach Javier Mascherano has stressed he's in no rush to bring his star back, aiming to have him fully fit for Wednesday’s Leagues Cup quarterfinal clash against Tigres.

And that's exactly the point. Those moments when he goes to ground and can't get up with the same spring will become increasingly common. Indeed, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner needs protecting more than ever - or Miami's title hopes might crumble.

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