Inter Miami face Porto for their second group match at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Here’s Lionel Messi status for the game in Atlanta.
Inter Miami are set to play their second Club World Cup group stage match against FC Porto at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. After there was concern surrounding Lionel Messi’s status, the captain is expected to be part of the starting lineup.
Coach Javier Mascherano confirmed that Messi trained well after their match against Al Ahly, which ended in a goalless draw. During an open training session, Messi was seen touching his leg as if in discomfort, but Miami’s head coach said he was fine.
“Leo is fine, he completed the training. Cameras were focusing on him touching his leg, but it was nothing. He is fit and he is playing tomorrow,” he told reporters ahead of the match. The coach also confirmed that Jordi Alba returns to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.
“Jordi, today, three weeks ago suffered a hamstring injury, so we will evaluate what is better if he starts or comes on as a substitute. We know, but I won’t tell you,” Maschearno said.
On the other hand, Yannick Bright, Gonzalo Lujan and David Ruiz remain out. To Mascherano, the team is viewing the match as a way to “test” themselves “against an opponent that plays in Europe, plays in the Champions League, that plays in important competitions. Well, we’re doing it with the hope of being able to prove what we’re really worth, too.“
Miami’s potential lineup against Porto
While the match against Porto will be a tough test, all teams in the Group A of the Club World Cup are all tied with only one point, after the Portuguese club also drew 0-0 with Palmeiras.
In that sense, both teams are looking to add three points tonight. To do that, Mascherano could go with a 4-4-2 lineup: Oscar Ustari; Marcelo Weigandt, Maximiliano Falcon, David Martinez, Noah Allen; Fafa Picault, Federico Redondo, Sergio Busquets, Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
From: bolavip.com
