Lionel Messi has been enjoying a training camp with Argentina like no other at his Inter Miami home.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is set to star again for Argentina in the upcoming Copa America that starts next month in the USA.
And the 36-year-old hasn’t had far to travel with Argentina’s base for the tournament at Inter Miami’s training ground.
Messi joined David Beckham ’s MLS team Inter Miami in 2023 after leaving French giants Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent at the end of his contract.
Beckham founded the club in 2018 and they entered the MLS Eastern Conference in 2020, achieving his dream of owning an MLS expansion team following his move to LA Galaxy in 2007.
And Argentina have Beckham to thank in an ironic twist of fate after Beckham scored the only goal of the game when the Three Lions beat Argentina 1-0 in the group stages of the 2002 World Cup.
Just four years earlier he was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone in England’s 1998 World Cup round of 16 defeat against the Albiceleste.
Messi and co. head into the tournament looking to retain their crown for the first time in the country’s history after Messi finally got his hands on the trophy as he captained Argentina to a 1-0 win over Brazil in the 2021 final following heartbreak in three separate Copa America finals.
Before the previous edition of the Copa America, Argentina had last won the tournament back in 1993 but had since lost four finals – twice against Brazil in 2004 and 2007, and back-to-back defeats against Chile on penalties in the 2015 and 2016 finals.
Possibly heading into his final Copa America, with the next tournament to be held in 2028, during which the Barcelona legend will celebrate his 41st birthday, there are fears among Argentina’s coaching staff heading into the tournament regarding Messi’s physical condition amid him missing six of Inter Miami’s 17 MLS games already this season.
However, Scaloni played down any concerns, saying earlier this week: “The good thing is that he has had continuity after the injury, that is important, that he adds minutes and shooting. We see that it is full and tomorrow, when it joins, we will talk more.”
Despite his stop-start campaign, Messi have scored 12 goals and registered nine assists in 12 MLS games so far this season. The Herons are currently top of the Eastern Conference but will be without Messi as the domestic fixtures continue to run through the summer.
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Source: USA Today
