FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi is healthy again. But how does he remain healthy to lead Argentina in this summer’s Copa América 2024?
Well, there’s no special plan from Inter Miami.
Here’s why: Messi’s schedule isn’t jam-packed. Inter Miami has eight or nine games remaining before Messi will likely join the Argentine national team for the tournament. And most of those games will be played weekly.
So, no need for anything special for Messi, 36, who will likely play in his final major tournament with Argentina this summer — unless he decides to appear at the Paris Olympics.
“Well, now there is nothing special with him. We are going to play matches from weekend to weekend,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said Friday before Saturday’s match against Nashville at 7:30 p.m. in Chase Stadium. “But I think we don’t have to analyze any special plan because he is feeling good. He is working well on a day-to-day basis and well, at the rate we are going, we will continue in the same way.”
Messi will play against Nashville in his fourth straight game, since recovering from a right hamstring injury that kept him out from March 13-April 6.
Argentina is the defending Copa América and World Cup champions, behind Messi, who frequently said the 2022 World Cup in Qatar would be his last.
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What is Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule?
Here are the next nine Inter Miami matches before MLS pauses its schedule before Copa América 2024:
∎Saturday: Inter Miami vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎April 27: Inter Miami at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎May 4: Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎May 11: Inter Miami at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎May 15: Inter Miami at Orlando City, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎May 18: Inter Miami vs. DC United, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎May 25: Inter Miami at Vancouver, 10:30 p.m. ET
∎May 29: Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎June 1: Inter Miami vs. St. Louis City, 7:30 p.m. ET
Messi, Argentina will prepare for Copa América with 2 matches together
Messi is expected to join Argentina for two warmup matches before Copa América begins in mid-June.
∎June 9: Argentina vs. Ecuador at Soldier Field in Chicago
∎June 14: Argentina vs. Guatemala at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.
What is Lionel Messi and Argentina’s Copa América schedule?
Argentina, also the reigning Copa América champions, have three group stage matches set:
∎June 20: Argentina vs. Canada in the Copa América opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
∎June 25: Argentina vs. Chile at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
∎June 29: Argentina vs. Peru at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Where will Messi, Argentina play if they advance out of Copa América group stage?
∎July 4 or 5: If Argentina advances out of the group stage, it will play a quarterfinal matchup in Houston or Arlington, Texas.
∎July 9: If Argentina advances to the Copa América semifinal, it would play at MetLife Stadium again.
∎July 13: The Copa América third-place game will be held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
∎July 14: The Copa América final will be held at Hard Rock Stadium.
Will Messi play in Paris Olympics?
Although Argentina coach Javier Mascherano is hopeful Messi will join his Olympic squad, Messi may opt to rejoin Inter Miami after Copa América.
Soccer group play at the Paris Olympics begin on July 24, while Inter Miami’s quest to win its second straight title in the Leagues Cup tournament – which is sponsored by Apple, a business partner of Messi’s – on July 27.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Messi and Copa América: How Inter Miami keeps him healthy for Argentina
