Lionel Messi’s road to recovery continues.
According to a report from TYC Sport’s Gaston Edul, Messi is set to play significant minutes in Argentina’s next game, a World Cup qualifying match vs. Peru on October 17th: “Leo Messi travels to Peru. The idea of the [the coach] is to continue adding minutes and play a part of the game.”
Argentina will be traveling to Lima to take on Peru as they look to stay on top of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings.
Messi has been out with a lingering hamstring injury for Inter Miami’s last four matches. He returned to the pitch after a nearly three-week absence, playing 35 minutes in the Heron’s 1-0 loss vs. FC Cincinnati.
Additionally, the World Cup winner came off the bench in Argentina’s latest match against Paraguay. As Messi works his way back to full fitness, both Argentina and Inter Miami must be careful to not overexert the 36-year-old.
Messi building up his fitness
As Argentina continues its World Cup qualification, and Miami wraps up its 2023 season, slowly bringing Messi up to speed is the ideal way to prevent any setbacks.
It’s imperative not to rush the Argentine back if both teams want to maximize his offensive output.
Inter Miami learned the hard way during their match against Toronto, where Messi had to be taken out early due to muscle tightness.
After that, Miami’s attack struggled, failing to replicate the white-hot offense that carried them to the Leagues Cup title in the summer.
Argentina doesn’t have that issue where their attack is solely run through Messi, however.
But as Rodrigo de Paul told the media after their win over Paraguay, it’s better to have the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner on the field: “Although we play at a very high level, we always miss him, we always want to have him in. I hope he can come back in the next game because with him everything is always better.”