ARGENTINA
Messi silences detractors before Miami return
The Argentine star, Lionel Messi, left his injury behind and responded to his critics with a double against Peru in the World Cup Qualifiers.
Criticism in Miami intensified the pressure on Lionel Messi. Following Inter Miami’s loss at the hands of FC Cincinnati and his absence from four matches, including the US Open Cup final, the superstar became the target of media scrutiny.
Messi far from finished
Some were even contemplating Messi’s retirement from the Argentine national team. Could the era of arguably the greatest ever be drawing to a close? Lionel Scaloni thought not and made his intentions clear by selecting him as a starter in the match against Peru.
“We are shooting ourselves in the foot. We are retiring Messi. We must seize this moment while he is with us and not dwell on what the future may hold,” Scaloni said prior to the game.
How Messi responded
The right hamstring injury, which prevented Inter Miami from fielding him in several matches, appeared to be in the past, as the former Barcelona player shone with a brace to orchestrate Argentina’s victory, establishing them as the clear leaders in the CONMEBOL qualifiers.
Messi returned to his prime form of recent times, the same form that allowed him to win his first trophy in the United States (The Leagues Cup) and captivate the entire region, to the extent of drawing in prominent celebrities to various stadiums of the MLS.
Nevertheless, Miami’s will not benefit from having Messi gracing the MLS Playoffs, and it is probable that Tata Martino may no longer deploy the Argentine star in the final matches against Charlotte FC, both on Wednesday in Florida and on Saturday away.