Lionel Messi is preparing to play in Inter Miami’s last match of the season.
Speaking to a gaggle of media members ahead of the team’s trip to North Carolina to take on East rivals Charlotte FC on Saturday, assistant coach Javier Morales confirmed that the World Cup winner will be traveling with the team.
Inter Miami’s 2023 ended early after the club failed to make the playoffs. Many believed that Messi could sit out the last remaining games of the season as a result. Nevertheless, it appears that the 36-year-old insists on participating.
After Argentina’s 2-0 win over Peru in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, Messi told TYC Sports that he intends to finish out the season with the Herons, playing in their last game of the year: “I will train, I will play [in the match against Charlotte FC] that is coming up now, and I will try to arrive in the best possible way for [Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers in November] if I can be there again.”
Messi has changed Inter Miami’s attack for the better.
When the Argentine was on the field, Miami was able to outscore opponents 22 to 11, leading the club to a Leagues Cup title, the first trophy in team history.
As the season went on and Messi was relegated to the sidelines with a hamstring injury, the Heron’s attack fizzled, as they struggled to score consistently, which ultimately led to the team missing the postseason.
As the club pivots to 2024, expect them to build upon their summer success.
Messi to play on Charlotte’s turf?
Despite Charlotte playing on turf fields, and speculation that the Argentine would refuse to play on that specific surface, in his first public press conference for the team back in mid-August, Messi said he had no issues with it: “It’s been a long time since I’ve played on artificial grass, but I played on it as an academy player and don’t have a problem playing on that kind of surface.”
After their match against Charlotte, Miami will end the year heading to China in early November for a two-game tour, before shutting down and prepping for 2024.