Lionel Messi has closed the year with the Argentina national team on their visit to Africa where they faced and defeated Angola with an impressive performance. The Albiceleste captain provided his 401st assist and scored the second goal that sealed the match, but will now fly to Florida with Rodrigo De Paul to play one of the most important matches in his career and in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Inter Miami is waiting for its biggest star, but the Herons’ itinerary is to rest on Sunday, although they have not yet announced whether they will give the Argentines an extra day of rest due to the friendly match and long trip from Africa, which is around 20 hours of flight.
How will the trip affect Lionel Messi’s preparations with Inter Miami?
The Argentine star is once again under the spotlight due to the accumulated fatigue, considering that he played three games against Nashville and now 86 minutes of the friendly against Argentina, plus two long trips. This has generated a debate among fans about whether he will be able to train normally for the semifinals and especially what his physical condition will be when the game against FC Cincinnati arrives.
Inter Miami understands the importance of the Argentine’s presence for the decisive match, so they are analyzing the work plan for Messi and whether he will have an extra day of rest. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will be in charge of leading the team in a decisive match and the most important since he arrived in MLS, but not only that, the Herons are looking to make history by reaching their first conference final.
Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference Semifinal: The moment for Messi to continue making history in MLS
Inter Miami is facing one of the most important games in its history as an MLS club as it seeks to reach the final of the Eastern Conference for the first time. This round is played in a single match, unlike the previous one which was best-of-three, which adds more difficulty; in case of a tie, extra time will be played and if they remain tied, everything will be decided in a penalty shootout.
The game is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 23 at TQL Stadium, home of FC Cincinnati at 5:00 p.m. (ET) where the Argentine will look to continue to extend his legacy and continue to be one of the best soccer players in the world. If they lose, their season will be over and they will not play again until 2026.
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