Overview

• Ángel Di María publicly called on the 38-year-old to feature in Argentina’s 2026 squad, comparing him to Maradona and describing him as “an alien” whose World Cup presence must continue.
• Messi has missed multiple Inter Miami matches this season due to injury setbacks, raising questions about his readiness for another tournament.
• His deal with Inter Miami runs through December 2025, and he is reportedly in talks to extend that contract as clubs including Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli express interest.
• Messi’s stint in MLS could bolster Argentina’s title defense on U.S. soil when the World Cup kicks off across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
• After returning from injury, Messi scored off the bench in Inter Miami’s 3-1 win over LA Galaxy, prompting coach Javier Mascherano to counsel careful workload management.