Lionel Messi might take the field for Argentina — right at Inter Miami’s home ground.
His club duties are done for now, and Messi has rejoined the national team’s training camp. However, it’s still uncertain whether he will play against Puerto Rico. Coach Lionel Scaloni said he will make the final decision after speaking with Messi.
Messi didn’t feature in Argentina’s win over Venezuela last Friday, even though he had trained with the squad before the match. The Argentine captain has been juggling the demands of both club and country. Ultimately, he chose to skip the friendly with Argentina to play in a crucial match for Inter Miami instead — where he scored twice to lead his team to a big victory the very next day.
Argentina’s next match will also take place at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale — Inter Miami’s home ground. After his club commitments, Messi has already started training with the national side. His return has sparked huge excitement, something that was clearly reflected in the Argentine Football Association’s statement:
“Leo’s return for this new international challenge has created tremendous anticipation and promises an incredible atmosphere. This match will serve as preparation for our upcoming journey and give the coaching staff an opportunity to fine-tune important details.”
The match against Puerto Rico — ranked 155th in the FIFA standings — will kick off at 6 a.m. Bangladesh time on Wednesday. On the eve of the game, Coach Scaloni shared his thoughts on Messi’s chances of playing:
“I watched Messi play last Saturday (in Miami’s match), and from what I saw, he finished the game quite well. But I haven’t spoken to him yet,” Scaloni said.
“Before tomorrow’s match, we’ll have our final training session — and as always, I’ll talk to him during this last stage of preparation. If he feels good, of course, he’ll play.”
According to several media outlets, Messi is expected to feature in the game — though perhaps not for the full 90 minutes. He might come on as a substitute or start and later be taken off.
