da realsbet： Tata Martino says “the work begins now for next season” at Inter Miami, with it unclear whether further risks will be taken on Lionel Messi’s fitness.

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Argentine superstar has nursed knockSeen limited game time as a resultHeading off with his country againWHAT HAPPENED?

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner may have already seen his 2023 campaign brought to a close at club level. An unfortunate injury picked up during his last trip away with the Argentina national team has limited his involvement in MLS action over recent weeks.

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Messi has been included in the latest Argentina squad – despite his lack of game time – and they have two more 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru fast approaching. The second of those fixtures is not due to take place until October 17.

WHAT THEY SAID

Inter Miami will be back in action against Charlotte FC on October 18, before facing the same opponents in their final regular season fixture three days later. Messi would not be back for the first of those games if he stays with the Argentina squad, and would be struggling for the second. Martino has said of his plans for two games that have become dead rubbers: “Yes, we have two games left, but the work begins now for next season. We made good roster moves and progress over the summer, and we have to be very precise over the next few months about how we will approach next season.”

GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

If Messi’s domestic campaign has come to a close, then he faces a long break through to the start of the 2024 MLS season. Argentina do have more qualifiers to come in November, while Inter Miami are expected to line up friendly dates, but the all-time great is going to have plenty of time in which to focus on returning to full match fitness – if no loan transfer is agreed in January.