Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has shared if Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi will feature in tonight’s international friendly against Ecuador.
The reigning world champions will begin preparations for the Copa America later today in Chicago at Soldier Field as Argentina take on Ecuador, with Messi part of Argentina’s squad for the upcoming competition.
With La Albiceleste also te current holders of the Copa America, Argentina head into this month’s tournament as the favorites, with expectations hanging around in the air that this could be Messi’s final major competition for his national team.
And manager Scaloni has now shared if the 36-year-old will feature tonight against Ecuador.
Messi expected to feature but not start for Argentina vs Ecuador
Speaking to the press, Scaloni admitted that measures are being made to ensure that Messi is fully for for the start of the Copa America, meaning that the forward will feature tonight but likely won’t start.
With Messi enduring a number of fitness issues this season with Inter Miami, Argentina taking caution with the 36-year-old is a wise decision heading into the Copa America, where the South American giants will want their star forward as fit as possible.
Scaloni said when asked if Messi will play tonight: “People will be able to see Messi. He will surely play for a while. We are going to think carefully about the minutes that each one will have to be healthy for the first game.
“Messi I imagine he will play, I don’t know if the whole game, 30 minutes, 60, whatever. But people are going to be able to see him, which is the most important thing.”
Inter Miami will appreciate every moment of rest Messi gets this month
With Messi expected to miss as many as six games for Inter Miami over the Copa America, every moment the forward spends rested is one that the Herons will greatly appreciate.
As we know, the Florida franchise had been managing Messi’s minutes perfectly this season, with Argentina now expected to do the same over the summer across friendlies and the Copa America.
And the less time the 36-year-old spends on the pitch, the better for Inter Miami, who will want their star forward to return later this summer fully fit and ready to go again in MLS.