Overview

• Lionel Messi started for Inter Miami and produced two goals and an assist in a 4-0 win over Atlanta United on Saturday.
• Javier Mascherano said he spoke to Lionel Scaloni, who confirmed he would not use Messi for Argentina and allowed him to play for the club.
• Scaloni previously stated it was his decision to hold Messi out of the friendly against Venezuela after the captain trained all week with the national team.
• Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Nicolás Otamendi, Giovani Lo Celso and AFA president Claudio Tapia watched the Inter Miami match from a stadium box.
• Argentina’s friendly against Puerto Rico was moved to Miami for Tuesday due to organizational and security reasons, with Messi’s participation unclear and criticism mounting over perceived preferential treatment affecting Argentine clubs; Inter Miami rose to second in the MLS East with the victory.