Galaxy Poor Start and Messi’s Super-Sub Role

Galaxy are currently experiencing an unprecedented slump as defending MLS champions, remaining winless through their first six games of the 2025 season. This marks the worst start ever for a defending MLS champion, raising serious concerns about the team’s trajectory.

Initially, the team’s poor performance was largely attributed to key injuries, especially to star players like Riqui Puig and Joseph Paintsil, whose absence significantly impacted the team’s offensive and defensive strategies. In addition to these injuries, the departures of crucial contributors such as striker Dejan Joveljić, midfield maestro Gaston Brugman, and versatile player Mark Delgado created noticeable gaps in the roster. These departures, combined with the injuries, disrupted team dynamics and affected the overall depth, making it difficult for the team to maintain consistent performances throughout the season.

A deeper analysis highlights a concerning attacking imbalance at the heart of the LA Galaxy’s struggles. In their recent match against Orlando City, despite making more passes into the final third, the Galaxy struggled to translate possession into meaningful chances, producing fewer shots and a significantly lower expected goals (xG) total. Even with Joseph Paintsil making a return as a substitute, the team couldn’t reverse their fortunes. Orlando City, seizing the opportunity, mounted a strong comeback during Paintsil’s time on the pitch, leaving the Galaxy to reflect on what went wrong in their attacking strategy.

The Galaxy’s defensive vulnerabilities, which were once hidden behind their championship success, have now become glaring weaknesses. These issues, previously masked by strong performances, are now fully exposed. Goalkeeping errors from both John McCarthy and Novak Micovic have significantly worsened the situation, leading to crucial goals being conceded at inopportune moments. These defensive lapses are proving costly and putting the team’s title aspirations at risk.

Several individual players are significantly underperforming:

• Marco Reus has failed to replicate Puig’s creativity, with questions arising about his work ethic
• Gabriel Pec has become predictable in his attacking patterns
• Christian Ramírez is struggling due to inadequate service
• Emiro Garcés has been unable to maintain his previous form

The team now faces a daunting list of issues that even Riqui Puig’s eventual return from injury may struggle to address.

Galaxy vs Messi: Substitute Role for Inter Miami

In a rare and unexpected turn of events, Lionel Messi recently took the field as a substitute for Inter Miami, a role he’s rarely seen in due to his usual status as a starter. This shift was prompted by a “low-grade” adductor strain and a left thigh issue, limiting his usual playing capacity.

Despite being physically compromised, Messi once again demonstrated his extraordinary skill, scoring the winning goal soon after coming on, with an assist from his long-time friend and teammate, Luis Suárez. This quick impact solidified his reputation as one of the most effective players to ever grace the game.

The idea of Messi coming off the bench as a “super-sub” seems almost surreal, given his legendary career as a starting player. However, a closer look at the statistics reveals that his effectiveness in this role is nothing short of remarkable. According to Opta, Messi has made 113 substitute appearances for both club and country, and in those appearances, he has averaged about 1.6 goals per 90 minutes. This statistic is impressive by any measure, especially considering his primary role has always been as a starter.

This unexpected substitution statistic serves as a reminder of Messi’s extraordinary longevity in the game, with his career now spanning over 1,000 professional matches. It reflects his continued ability to make an impact, whether starting or coming off the bench, further solidifying his place as one of the greatest footballers of all time.