The 2022 World Cup was meant to be Lionel Messi’s swan song, but the diminutive genius has refused to give up on his international career.
While the Argentine has departed Europe in favour of a major payday at Inter Miami, his primary motivation remains the national team, and he’s yet to shut the door on representing La Albiceleste as they go about defending their World Cup crown in 2026.
Lionel Scaloni’s side have made an excellent start to qualifying and are set to stroll through the process. Argentina haven’t conceded a goal since Kylian Mbappe’s Qatari heroics, and they already hold a four-point lead at the top of CONMEBOL’s qualifying table.
A big month awaits Messi and company as they take on Uruguay and eternal rivals Brazil. The 36-year-old’s domestic season has already concluded with Miami failing to make the playoffs, and Messi’s fitness struggles limited his action down the stretch.
After doubts over the skipper’s status heading into the October internationals, here are the latest fitness updates for Messi ahead of the next batch of qualifiers.
After making a blistering start to his career with Inter Miami, the Herons’ season concluded with a whimper as Messi missed five MLS fixtures with an injury. Miami recorded just one league win in Messi’s absence and lost the US Open Cup final to Houston Dynamo with their talisman forced to watch on from the sidelines.
The superstar Argentine was said to merely be dealing with a muscular problem and a few niggles churned up from past injuries. Miami boss Tata Martino was quick to quash reports that Messi had suffered a hamstring strain. Nevertheless, the 36-year-old certainly wasn’t fully fit heading into Argentina’s October internationals.
Messi began on the bench against Paraguay, emerging in the second half of a 1-0 win. But normality resumed as he started and scored a brace in a 2-0 win over Peru five days later.
Messi has, of course, been included in Scaloni’s squad for Argentina’s upcoming crunch qualifiers and he was pictured in high spirits arriving at Buenos Aires airport.
His fitness issues are believed to be behind him, and the Argentina captain is expected to play the entirety of the first November qualifier against Uruguay. Inter Miami recently hosted a commemorative fixture against New York City FC to celebrate Messi’s eighth Ballon d’Or, and the 36-year-old played the full 90 minutes – although, his display was somewhat underwhelming.
Presuming he gets through the Uruguayan test unscathed, Messi will surely suit up for the mammoth duel against Brazil five days later.
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