Lionel Messi: ‘I will play our upcoming remaining match’ against Charlotte FC on Saturday

Lionel Messi plans to play the final Inter Miami game on the road Saturday against Charlotte FC.

Messi, who scored both Argentina goals in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Peru on Tuesday night, said in a sideline interview with TyC Sports and TVP after the game: “I will train, I will play our remaining upcoming match [against Charlotte FC] and I will try to get here [to the national team] in the best possible way for November [qualifying matches]. After that, I will enjoy the holidays in Argentina. It’s the first time that I am going to have more days off in December, with the holidays, with peace of mind, with my people. In January, I will return again to do preseason. Start from scratch and prepare as best as possible as always.”

Messi was on his way home from Peru and will not be available for the home game against Charlotte on Wednesday night.

Asked about the likelihood he would play the second game against Charlotte on the road Saturday, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said on Tuesday: “We will evaluate not only Leo, but all players who are with their national teams when they return Thursday, as we are out of the playoffs, and we don’t want to run any risks.”

Messi, it seems, feels fit to play.

The Argentine star had been recovering from an upper leg injury that caused him to miss five of the past seven Inter Miami games and play sparingly in the other two. He started for Argentina and played the full 90 minutes on Tuesday night. It was the first time he played a full game since the Sept. 3 Inter Miami road victory against Los Angeles FC.

The injury flared up during the Argentina game against Ecuador on Sept. 7, and he asked to come off the field in the 88^th minute. He then missed the game against Bolivia and Miami’s game against Atlanta United. He attempted to come back during the home game against Toronto, but lasted only 37 minutes and sat out the following four games. He came in as a second-half sub against Cincinnati on Oct. 7 and also came off the bench in Argentina’s game against Paraguay.

Asked whether he was considering playing for another club on loan during the Inter Miami offseason, Messi said: “No”.

He added: “It’s a shame [we didn’t qualify for the playoffs]. We came very close. I missed the last few games, we had several injuries. The month of July was very hard for us, we played every three days, we traveled. But we won a tournament, which is important for the club and for what is coming next year.”

Messi scored 11 goals in 13 appearances for Miami and led the club to the Leagues Cup title in August. After the final Charlotte game on Saturday, Miami players will have a few days off and then return to training for a trip to China.

The team will play two Chinese Super League teams in friendly matches, first facing Qingdao Hainiu F.C. in Qingdao, China on Nov. 5 and then Chengdu Rongcheng in Chengdu, China on Nov. 8.