While Lionel Messi continues his rehabilitation work in the gym under the close supervision of the medical staff, Inter Miami is preparing to face Toronto FC on Thursday, August 8 (7:30 pm) at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Messi has made great strides in his recovery from the ankle injury he suffered during the Copa America final. His right ankle is no longer swollen and he had his orthopedic boot removed a week ago.
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Leo is expected to take to the field soon to do individual work and get some rhythm before joining the group to begin training.
It is therefore expected that this Wednesday, the coach of the pink-black club, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, in his usual press conference after training, will confirm that Messi will not be in the 2024 Leagues Cup round of 32 matches against Toronto.
It will be the fifth game that Messi has missed since the Copa America final, two in MLS against Toronto and Chicago, and three in the Leagues Cup against Puebla, Tigres, and Toronto. Miami has a 3-1 record.
Inter Miami is not going to force anything, not even for a hypothetical round-of-16 match against Columbus or Sporting KC, if they manage to advance against Toronto.
If all goes as planned, Leo is expected to make his return against Cincinnati on August 24 at Chase Stadium, although he could also make his return in the final stages of the Leagues Cup if the team advances.
So, if there is no setback then Messi should be in full form for the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup if Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni calls him up.
Argentina will host Chile on September 5 at the Estadio Monumental and on September 10 will face Colombia in Barranquilla as they are first in the qualifying round.
Messi always wants to play for his national team so he will do everything possible to participate in both matches.
Leo also has in mind winning the MLS title with Inter Miami and will not put himself at risk if he is not in top form.
The Miami club is first in the league with 53 points and is five ahead of Cincinnati, second place (48) in the Eastern Conference. That is why the match on August 24th has special importance.
The curious thing is that the South Florida club has not thrown this Leagues Cup aside and its coach has put in the best he has, with very few changes to defend the crown of champion of this tournament, despite losing 2-1 to Tigres in the last match of the group stage with a goal from Leonardo Campana from a penalty.
This goal was not just another one for Campana, as it became his 29th with the team and served to equal Gonzalo Higuaín’s record as the club’s all-time top scorer.
Messi is chasing him with 24 goals in just 29 games. Luis Suarez, who arrived this season, already has 12.
Suarez did not play against Tigres due to rest, but he looked extremely motivated during the Miami team’s training session on Tuesday.
“El Pistolero being El Pistolero,” Inter Miami posted on social media in a 19-second video where you can see his right-footed, left-footed, header, one-touch, and two-touch finishes.
Meanwhile, fans of the pink-black team hope to see him very soon alongside Messi scoring goals and winning tournaments.
