{
  "id": 16448621,
  "title": "Kily Gonzalez explains SHOCK decision to bench Lionel Messi in Inter Miami defeat",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/kily-gonzalez-explains-shock-decision-to-bench-lionel-messi-in-inter",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-25T08:22:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/kily-gonzalez-explains-shock-decision-082203842.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Manager Kily Gonzalez of Inter Miami disclosed the reason behind benching Lionel Messi, the Argentine football star, during a recent match loss. The decision came amid a rigorous travel schedule leading up to the game. Messi, who had recently traveled to Oviedo, Spain to receive the Princess of Asturias award for Sports, was substituted early in the second half. This was not an impromptu move, as Gonzalez clarified, stating that the coach and the player had previously agreed to this precautionary measure to safeguard Messi's health. The long-distance journey and subsequent time zone changes were seen as factors that warranted the decision. After a series of wins, Inter Miami suffered a 2-0 defeat to Red Bull New York, breaking their three-game winning streak. Messi's absence marked the first time in 13 consecutive matches that the famed player had not contributed to a goal. Inter Miami's loss was attributed to their midfield's poor performance, including excessive turnovers and difficulty in building play from deep positions. Despite this setback, Inter Miami remains in a strong position in their league standings. The team faces a crucial home match against FC Cincinnati next, aiming to regain their attacking momentum and strengthen their midfield play.",
  "summary": "Lionel Messi saw his impressive streak of goal contributions come to an end after a substitute appearance in Inter Miami's 2-0 defeat to Red Bull New York. Manager Kily Gonzalez revealed the Argentine was benched as a precaution following a hectic travel schedule to Spain.",
  "key_points": [
    "Manager Kily Gonzalez explains Messi's benching due to travel schedule.",
    "Messi had recently received Princess of Asturias award for Sports.",
    "Inter Miami's loss attributed to poor midfield performance."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Prioritizing player health over immediate results signals a shift toward long-term management strategies as heavy travel schedules force Inter Miami to balance star availability with physical preservation.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}