Inter Miami seek clarity on Lionel Messi return as fixture pile-up looms

Inter Miami manager Guillermo Hoyos says he will speak to Lionel Messi to decide when the Argentina captain will return to competitive action following his involvement in the 2026 World Cup.

Messi and Inter Miami team-mate Rodrigo De Paul resumed training with the club this week after being given several days off following Argentina’s World Cup final against Spain on 19 July in New Jersey. Their break meant both players missed Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer matches against Chicago Fire and CF Montreal.

Hoyos said on Friday that discussions about Messi’s return had already begun, although no formal meeting had yet taken place.

“We have been talking about it, but he has just returned and we have not yet had the opportunity to have a formal conversation,” Hoyos said, according to ESPN. “We are very happy to have them back at the club, and it is great to see them here.”

Messi was one of the leading figures at the World Cup, scoring eight goals and providing four assists as Argentina reached the final for a second successive edition. He played the full 120 minutes of the showpiece match against Spain, while De Paul was involved for 70 minutes.

Inter Miami are due to host Columbus Crew on Saturday at No Stadium before turning their attention to the Leagues Cup. Their first match in that competition will be against Atletico de San Luis on 5 August.

The club won the Leagues Cup in 2023 and reached the final in 2025, where they were beaten by Seattle Sounders.

The demanding schedule is already a concern for Hoyos, with Inter Miami set to compete in two competitions at the same time. The manager warned that the number of matches would place a significant physical burden on his squad in the coming weeks.

“I think it is extremely difficult because of the huge number of matches; there will be a real accumulation of games over several weeks, leaving very little time to catch our breath or rest,” he said.

Hoyos added: “The current routine is basically: a match, then another match, then rest, then another match, and so on. It is complicated, because the workload from the games is heavy and has a physical impact, while the competition itself is also exhausting.”

The timing of Messi’s return will therefore be discussed with the player after his first training sessions back with Inter Miami. The club have not yet confirmed whether he will feature against Columbus Crew or wait until the Leagues Cup fixture against Atletico de San Luis.