Messi will start U.S. Open Cup semi vs. FC Cincinnati - Martino - ESPN

Inter Miami will play their sixth match in 22 days Wednesday when they take on FC Cincinnati in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal, with three more matches coming up in the following 11 days when they resume MLS play.

Miami's busy schedule may raise some concern about the 36-year-old legs of a certain Lionel Messi, who played all 90 minutes in Saturday's Leagues Cup final and in each of the four previous matches.

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«We said that at some point he would have to rest because of the load of minutes played,» Miami coach Gerardo «Tata» Martino said before training Monday. «Clearly, Wednesday is not going to be that day. If he does not tell me he wants to rest, he will continue to play.»

That statement matches comments Martino made earlier this season when he stated that Messi will always go the distance in a match if he can.

Messi scored his 10th goal in seven matches since joining Miami when he opened the scoring vs. Nashville over the weekend, leading his new club to a first-ever trophy.

He also scored in the penalty shootout, but it was what he did after the match that also had many people raving even more about the World Cup champion.

Prior to the trophy ceremony, Messi handed the captain's armband to right back DeAndre Yedlin, who led the team for most of the season before Messi's arrival. Yedlin had taken over the captaincy from Brazilian midfielder Gregore, who went down injured in the team's third game.

«This is not the first time that he has made this type of gesture,» said Martino. «This is the reason why when people say he is the best player in the world, it is not only because of what he does on pitch during a match.

»The same thing happens at training, with him and also