Lionel Messi was in Miami after making a 4,800 km journey on a private plane. Before that, he also traveled 2,700 km from Buenos Aires to La Paz.

Argentina’s victory over Bolivia in the 2026 World Cup qualifier for South America ended FIFA Day in September and Lionel Messi also returned to Florida to prepare for the upcoming tiring schedule. Inter Miami will have seven matches in the next 22 days, a mix of qualifying for the MLS playoffs and seeking the second title in the club’s history.

After playing in the victory over Ecuador at Monumental, Messi left the field in the last minutes because he was not physically fit and despite being tired, he still chose to accompany his teammates to an altitude of 3,625 meters in La Paz. “He himself told me that he felt unwell,” coach Lionel Scaloni said at the press conference.

Messi did not play with Argentina in the match against Bolivia

In fact, before joining the team, Messi played many matches with Inter Miami without having time to prepare for the season. Now, coach Gerardo Martino may consider using him in the trip to visit Atlanta United next Sunday morning (Vietnam time) in MLS.

The short gap between Inter Miami and DC United in the Eastern rankings shows the importance of the next match, marking the beginning of a challenge that lasts until October 7.

After meeting Atlanta, Inter Miami will welcome bottom team Toronto at DRV PNK Stadium on September 21 and visit Orlando City on September 25. Three days later, Messi and his teammates stayed in Florida to play the US Open Cup final at home against Houston Dynamo.

Messi has returned to Inter Miami to prepare for the upcoming tiring journey

Whatever the final result is, it will quickly be put aside because on October 1, Inter Miami will meet New York Red Bulls in the domestic championship. On October 4, they visited Chicago Fire, before facing Cincinnati, the team that Martino and his team eliminated in the US Open Cup semi-finals on penalties.

Inter Miami’s schedule of 7 matches in 22 day

MLS: Atlanta United vs Inter Miami, Sunday September 17

MLS: Inter Miami vs Toronto, Thursday September 20

MLS: Orlando City vs Inter Miami, Monday September 25

US Open Final: Inter Miami vs Houston Dynamo, Thursday September 28

MLS: Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls, Sunday October 1

MLS: Chicago Fire vs Inter Miami, Thursday October 5

MLS: Inter Miami vs Cincinnati, Sunday October 8