Is Lionel Messi playing today? Latest on Inter Miami star’s status for El Salvador preseason friendly
Lionel Messi's club Inter Miami begins their 2024 global preseason tour with a friendly against El Salvador in the Caribbean nation on Saturday.
Inter Miami's preseason tour will see them travel more than 23,000 miles around the world, visiting El Salvador, Hong Kong, Japan, and Saudi Arabia before finishing the trip domestically in Dallas.
After taking the last two months off, Messi is in the squad for the preseason tour, along with other Inter Miami superstars including new signing Luis Suarez.
The 36-year-old was his usual brilliant self last season after joining the MLS club, but suffered an injury down the end of the season, which brought into question his ability to stay fit across a full campaign's crowded fixture list. With his first complete season with Inter Miami nearing closer, the conversation will be about how to manage his minutes to keep him fit for the most important fixtures.
Fans can live stream the friendly against El Salvador free in English on MLSSoccer.com or in Spanish on MLSes.com.
Full Inter Miami preseason schedule prior to 2024 MLS season
Lionel Messi is in the Inter Miami squad for the friendly against El Salvador on Saturday, but it's highly unlikely that he will start the match.
With Messi and his teammates just returning from their offseason break, they will almost surely be eased into full match action, more than likely coming off the bench to begin the preseason schedule.
The same will surely be true for Inter Miami's other aging stars like Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, as well as new signing Luis Suarez.
"We have a responsibility to make sure the fans feel well represented on the field when our big stars aren't playing," said Inter Miami manager Gerardo 'Tata' Martino prior to the start of
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