Lionel Messi’s post-World Cup break could be coming to an end on Saturday night when Inter Miami host the Columbus Crew.
Messi and his teammate with both Miami and on the Argentine national team, Rodrigo De Paul, joined the team in practice on Friday for the first time since the Major League Soccer season resumed. They are listed as available for selection on Saturday.
“(Messi) got here a little bit ago so we haven’t had a chance yet to properly talk about it,” Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos told reporters on Friday. “But we’re happy (he and De Paul) are back.”
Inter Miami (11-2-4, 37 points) have been red-hot even without Messi, and are chasing their seventh consecutive victory — a streak that began on May 9. Miami, the 2024 Supporters’ Shield winners, are within striking distance of that prize as they enter the game only two points behind Nashville SC.
Recently signed Brazilian star Casemiro will play his first home game after making his club debut in Miami’s 1-0 win at Montreal last Saturday. Luis Suarez continued his hot surge by scoring the deciding goal. He has three goals in two matches since the World Cup break and six goals in Miami’s last three.
Columbus (5-8-4, 19 points) has not had a typical season by its standards, but is coming off a 2-1 victory over FC Cincinnati in the “Hell is Real” derby this past Saturday.
The Crew are set to part ways with winger Max Arfsten, who will join English Premier League club Middlesbrough, which is set to pay a $7.5 million transfer fee including add-ons, according to The Athletic.
The Crew are hopeful midfielder Taha Habroune will be available to play, though. Habroune took an ugly hit from Cincinnati’s Gerardo Valenzuela, which resulted in a scuffle between players and coaches from the two sides postgame.
Habroune, who has one goal and one assist, has started 13 of Columbus’ MLS matches this season. Diego Rossi leads Columbus with six goals.
“Limping a little bit,” Crew interim coach Laurent Courtois said Thursday. “(It’s) painful when he tries to change direction, but he was able to train. We tried to modify him a little bit, but he was able to train.”
–Field Level Media
