Throughout the 2024 Major League Soccer season, Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi played in a mere 55% of available games. Still, despite his limited participation in a pink jersey, Messi led the club to the Supporters' Shield and an MLS points record, and he was named the league MVP.
To do that, Messi just needed 19 games (or 1,485 minutes) to prove himself last season with 20 goals and 16 assists.
Then-Inter Miami manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino had quickly realized the team could rest 37-year-old Messi when necessary and still qualify for the most important aspect of MLS: the postseason.