Overview

• Lionel Messi did not feature in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Venezuela in Miami, a decision manager Lionel Scaloni said he made to test other forwards.
• Sources told ESPN that Messi will join Inter Miami’s squad to face Atlanta United on Saturday at Chase Stadium before rejoining Argentina for Tuesday’s Puerto Rico friendly at the same venue.
• Inter Miami have clinched an MLS playoff berth but are pushing to improve Eastern Conference seeding to secure home-field advantage in the first round.
• Messi is tied with LAFC’s Denis Bouanga on 24 league goals, keeping the MLS Golden Boot race in play with two regular-season matches remaining for Miami.
• Separately, multiple reports say Neymar has been offered to Inter Miami for a possible reunion with Messi and Luis Suárez once his Santos deal expires in December, a scenario the club is exploring while working on new contracts for its stars and which remains unconfirmed.