""Yesterday, before the match, I talked to [Argentina manager Lionel] Scaloni, and he said no, that he was not going to use him, that he was going to sit him down. And I spoke to Leo to see if he could play,""
""It was his decision, and clearly he saw the opportunity that if he wasn't going to play against Venezuela yesterday, we could use him. Leo, of course, was ready to do it. "He is a very special player, he's an icon, and even though he didn't train last week with us, we saw what he did today. He has helped us to win, he managed to score. That for him was important.""
Lionel Messi, 38, was called up by Argentina for friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico but was rested for the Venezuela match in Miami. Argentina won 1-0 with Messi watching from the stands while manager Lionel Scaloni tested Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez together. Inter Miami requested Messi return to play in their home MLS match and he started against Atlanta United. Messi curled in a 39th-minute opener, added a second in the 87th minute, and assisted Jordi Alba's goal. Luis Suárez also scored. Inter Miami are guaranteed a playoff spot and sit third in the Eastern Conference, level on points with FC Cincinnati.
Read at www.bbc.com
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