Lionel Messi rejoined Argentina’s national team after missing the October 10 friendly against Venezuela.
The 38-year-old captain, called up by manager Lionel Scaloni for matches against Venezuela and Puerto Rico, received permission to play in Inter Miami’s MLS game on October 11. Miami needed Messi for their penultimate regular-season match against Atlanta to climb the Eastern Conference table.
#FÚTBOL ⚽️
¿JUGARÁ MESSI?
Lionel Scaloni, entrenador de Argentina, habló sobre las opciones del '10' para jugar ante Puerto Rico.https://t.co/sv12kW2JlT
— ESPN Ecuador (@ESPNEcuador) October 14, 2025Messi delivered in Inter Miami’s 4-0 win, scoring the opener. Coach Javier Mascherano praised his impact, noting the team’s reliance on him. The match marked Miami’s final game at Chase Stadium before moving to Miami Freedom Park in 2026.
⚽️Argentina recupera a Messi para amistoso contra Puerto Rico
El astro Lionel Messi participó en el último entrenamiento de la selección de Argentina en Miami con miras al amistoso de este martes.https://t.co/20M3PITUAF pic.twitter.com/g8TphNReLd
— Soy 502 (@soy_502) October 14, 2025Messi will feature against Puerto Rico on October 14 at Chase Stadium. Argentina’s statement highlighted the game as preparation for upcoming commitments, adding, “Leo’s return generates great anticipation.” Scaloni’s squad fine-tunes details amid a busy schedule.
Messi’s dual commitments showcase his enduring influence at club and international levels. His return boosts Argentina’s morale ahead of key fixtures. For updates, follow ESPN, Goal, and Inter Miami’s official channels.
