A week after losing his father, Messi set to start for Inter Miami | OneFootball

Lionel Messi trained normally under Guillermo Hoyos and has a strong chance of returning to the starting lineup this Saturday, when Inter Miami visit Nashville SC at 9:30 p.m. Argentina time. The captain took part in the entire Friday training session alongside his teammates, after making his return last Wednesday against León in the Leagues Cup, a match in which he played the entire second half just four days after the death of his father, Jorge Messi.

A gradual return and the coaching staff’s caution

Messi’s presence from the start at Geodis Park has not yet been officially confirmed, as the coaching staff are closely assessing both his physical response and the delicate personal moment he is going through. Coach Guillermo Hoyos was especially respectful of the player’s situation and avoided revealing his decision on the starting team. The manager stressed the importance of supporting the player through his grief and made it clear that this is a deep pain that cannot be overcome from one day to the next. In the coming hours, it will be decided whether the captain takes the field from the opening whistle or sticks to the formula from the last match by coming off the bench.

A decisive match for the top of the MLS

Beyond the emotional side, the match carries enormous importance from a sporting standpoint in the U.S. league. Nashville currently lead the Eastern Conference with 40 points, and Inter Miami are right behind with 38, turning this clash into a direct battle for first place. In addition, both teams come into the game hurting after being eliminated early in the first round of the Leagues Cup, so they must quickly shift their focus and fully concentrate on domestic competition. In this context, the captain of the Argentina National Team once again chose to find refuge in football to cope with one of the hardest losses of his life.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.