Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano has confirmed that Lionel Messi is fit and ready to play against Charlotte FC this weekend as Major League Soccer (MLS) resumes after the international break.
Mascherano told reporters on Friday that the Argentine star trained with the team all week after returning from World Cup qualification duty.
“Leo is doing well. He trained with us all week and he’ll be available for the game against Charlotte,” Mascherano said during his pre-match press briefing.
The game at Bank of America Stadium will be Miami’s first MLS fixture since the FIFA window and their loss to Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup final.
However, Miami will be missing several key players. Striker Luis Suárez is serving a three-game suspension from the Leagues Cup final, while Fafa Picault, David Ruiz, Allen Obando, and Baltasar Rodríguez are also unavailable.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned this season, it’s how to adapt,” Mascherano said. “We’ll be missing Fafa, David, and Luis because of suspension, and Baltasar is unlikely to make it as well. But that opens up opportunities for others to step in and prove their value.”
Charlotte FC head into the clash in top form, with an eight-game winning run that has pushed them into the Eastern Conference’s leading pack. They are currently four points ahead of Miami.
For Inter Miami, the weekend match marks the start of a demanding schedule. After facing Charlotte, they will host Seattle Sounders on Tuesday in a Leagues Cup final rematch, before taking on D.C. United on Saturday, September 20.
