Lionel Messi Set for Extended Minutes in Inter Miami’s Critical Matches

Inter Miami is set to feature Lionel Messi in the starting lineup for their upcoming home match against Charlotte FC, as announced by the team’s coach, Tata Martino. This match, scheduled for Saturday night, marks Messi’s fourth appearance since returning from an ankle injury sustained during the Copa America, which kept him sidelined for over two months this summer.

Coach Martino highlighted the necessity of game time for Messi to enhance his match fitness ahead of the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoff race. “Leo is going to get better and better as he adds 90 minutes,” said Martino. He emphasized that Messi does not require extra physical training but needs to regain his competitive rhythm through consistent play. Martino expressed confidence in Messi’s readiness for the playoffs, highlighting a combination of club and national team matches in the coming weeks.

Inter Miami is in urgent need of Messi’s form to peak quickly as the team could secure the MLS Supporters’ Shield with victories in their upcoming games. They face Charlotte FC on Saturday, followed by a match against Columbus Crew on Wednesday. Achieving eight points from their remaining four games would also secure this accomplishment.

The match against Charlotte FC kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be accessible for streaming. During the game, Messi showed moments of engagement, including receiving a header pass from Jordi Alba and a notable left-foot attempt that was narrowly off-target in the 36th minute.

In the match’s 57th minute, Charlotte FC’s Karol Świderski managed to put his team in the lead by scoring past Inter Miami’s goalkeeper, Drake Callender. Meanwhile, Messi experienced multiple close misses, including a saved penalty attempt by Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.

Further contributing to the dynamic of Inter Miami’s schedule, Martino confirmed that Messi would participate in Argentina‘s national team matches during the FIFA international window. Argentina is slated to play Venezuela on October 10 and host Bolivia on October 15, marking Messi’s first national team games since his recent Copa America victory.

Before these national fixtures, Messi aims to help Inter Miami secure a second title this season by winning both the Charlotte FC match and the subsequent game against Columbus Crew. The Columbus Crew, despite celebrating their MLS Cup victory with a visit to the White House, recently faced a setback against Club America, which might impact their performance against Inter Miami.