Lionel Messi will join up with Argentina’s squad on Monday ahead of their participation in this summer’s Copa America.
The Inter Miami star has been selected in head coach Lionel Scaloni’s provisional squad for the 2024 tournament, which officially begins with Argentina against Canada on June 21.
The 36-year-old, who has scored 13 goals and assisted 11 times in 14 appearances for Miami this season, will be hoping to help his nation defend the trophy they won in 2021.
Miami sit first in MLS with 34 points after 17 matches at the exact halfway point in the regular season. They have won two, lost two and drawn two in the six league games that Messi has missed this season.
This next month without Messi and others on international duty will go a long way in determining if they remain favorably positioned to win the Supporters’ Shield — the regular season trophy in MLS awarded to the team with the most points.
Argentina face two friendlies against Ecuador on June 9 and Guatemala five days later. Scaloni has until June 12 to cut his 29-man squad down to the maximum number allowed of 26.
They then begin their Copa America campaign on June 21 against Canada, before facing Chile on June 26 and then Peru on June 30.
The Copa America takes place across the United States between June 20 and July 14.
What Inter Miami games could Messi miss?
- Inter Miami vs St. Louis (MLS) – June 1
- Philadelphia vs Inter Miami (MLS) – June 15
- Inter Miami vs Colombus (MLS) – June 19
- Nashville vs Inter Miami (MLS) — June 29
- Charlotte vs Inter Miami (MLS) – July 3
- Cincinnati vs Inter Miami (MLS) – July 6
- Inter Miami vs Toronto (MLS) – July 17
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(CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)