Inter Miami have looked a completely different side with Lionel Messi in the mix, and it’s no surprise that their incredible form since the Argentine’s arrival has seen several players receive call-ups for their national teams.
Miami Head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino will see a mixture of both young and veteran players depart the club and leave him with a headache for their September 9 fixture against Sporting Kansas City.
Leading the way is none other than Lionel Messi, who’s set to lead the 2022 World Cup winners in qualifying for the 2026 edition of the competition against Ecuador and Bolivia. Former Atlanta United legend Josef Martinez is set to link up with the Venezuela national team, where he looks to add to his 14 goals in 63 appearances when Venezuela take on Colombia and Paraguay in World Cup qualifiers.
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 31, 2023
Veteran center-back Serhiy Kryvstov will rejoin the Ukraine national team in their 2024 European championship qualifiers against Italy and England. Robert Taylor’s recent form has earned him a call-up to Finland’s Euro qualifiers, as they face off against Kazakhstan and Denmark.
Drake Callender’s penalty shootout heroics in Leagues Cup and the US Open Cup semi-final against FC Cincinnati sees him join the US men’s national team alongside a first-time call-up for Benjamin Cremaschi, who has dual citizenship in the US and Argentina. The Stars and Stripes take on Uzbekistan and Oman in a pair of international friendlies as Cremaschi and Callender will look to impress the returning Gregg Berhalter.
Other notable players such as Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets have retired from international football, as both players made over 230 combined appearances for La Roja while winning a few trophies in the process.
After the Herons’ scoreless 0-0 draw with Nashville SC, the south Florida side, now 14th in the Eastern Conference with 22 points, are back in action on September 3 on the road against 2022 MLS Cup champions LAFC.
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