Inter Miami star Lionel Messi will be set to play a full 90 minute match in Major League Soccer‘s season opener against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night.
Messi had been plagued with injuries that de-railed the club’s preseason tour of Asia – prompting the cancellation of two Argentina friendlies in China.
But for the opening game of the season, Messi will be set to play the full match, according to Tata Martino.
Recent star signing striker Luis Suarez is available to play a full 90 as well, said Martino.
Inter Miami will be hoping to get their season off to a better start this year than the one prior.
Lionel Messi will be available to play all 90 minutes in the season opener vs. Real Salt Lake
This winter’s big arrival, Luis Suarez, is also ready to go, according to coach Tata Martino
Messi and the Herons will hope to get a better start this season than they did last year
After going 5-0-10 to start the season, the club fired coach Phil Neville and replaced him with Martino.
That summer, Messi arrived and the team found success in the form of a Leagues Cup title.
But they severely underperformed in the league – and the Messi of the Leagues Cup did not show up in MLS.
After managing ten goals in seven cup games, Messi only scored once in both MLS play and in US Open Cup action.
The club finished 14th out of 15 in the Eastern Conference and 27th out of 29 in the league overall.