The workload of the 37-year-old Argentina captain has been managed since the start of the Major League Soccer season.

Argentina may have qualified for the 2026 World Cup earlier in the day with Uruguay drawing with Bolivia, but that didn't mean that they were going to let up facing rivals Brazil in the Superclasico de las Americas,

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina is proving it can win without Lionel Messi, just in case he opts not to play in the 2026 World Cup. After Argentina secured a spot in next year’s competition, the main question now is whether the 37-year-old star will play in his sixth tournament and try to win back-to-back championships.

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano has said that Lionel Messi will likely be called up for the MLS match against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, which would see him return to the field for the first time since March 16.

Will Lionel Messi start for Inter Miami against Philadelphia Union? That's the question on every fan's mind. While Javier Mascherano has confirmed Messi is likely to be in the squad, his inclusion in the starting eleven remains uncertain.

The Philadelphia Union and Inter Miami meet Saturday evening in South Florida in a clash for early-season Eastern Conference supremacy, and it will likely mark the return of Miami star Lionel Messi.