Puerto Rico vs. Argentina: Worldwide pleasant may even see Lionel Messi rewrite historical past by smashing all-time FIFA report if Inter Miami star performs

When Lionel Messi sat smiling within the stands on the Exhausting Rock Stadium throughout Argentina’s 1-0 win over Venezuela, most assumed it was a easy case of relaxation. However behind that calm demeanor, there’s one thing a lot greater on the horizon — an opportunity for the Argentine captain to jot down his title as soon as once more into the pages of soccer historical past.

Coach Lionel Scaloni raised eyebrows when he determined to go away Messi out of the Venezuela match, a transfer that sparked hypothesis amongst each followers and media. The 38-year-old star watched from the stands together with his household, sipping mate, whereas Argentina labored to a slim victory courtesy of Giovani Lo Celso’s first-half purpose.

After the match, Scaloni clarified his reasoning. “I made a decision Messi wouldn’t play as we speak,” he instructed reporters. “We wished to check Lautaro [Martínez] and Julián [Alvarez], however we had Flaco [Lopez] on the bench. It was purely tactical.”

Rumors had steered that Inter Miami — Messi’s membership — most popular that their star relaxation forward of an necessary MLS conflict towards Atlanta United. Scaloni, nonetheless, insisted that his focus remained on managing workloads and offering alternatives for rising expertise. “We’ll see how issues unfold; we hope he can play,” he added, referring to the upcoming pleasant towards Puerto Rico.

Change of plans — and site

Initially, Argentina’s match towards Puerto Rico was speculated to happen at Soldier Discipline in Chicago. However amid safety considerations and social unrest in Illinois, organizers determined to transfer the match to Fort Lauderdale, scheduling it at Chase Stadium — the house of Inter Miami. The change additionally pushed the date again by a day, from Monday to Tuesday, October 14, providing the group and its captain useful relaxation.

That shift may show essential. Messi, who has been nursing minor fatigue after a packed MLS schedule, now has extra restoration time. It additionally means he may feasibly seem for each membership and nation inside the identical weekend, given that each one video games are going down in Miami.

In response to TyC Sports activities, this uncommon scenario “offers Scaloni the liberty to handle Messi’s minutes flexibly whereas making certain he stays near each commitments.”

Lionel Messi of Inter Miami

The Report inside attain

Whereas a lot of the discuss has centered on ways and rotation, there’s one other storyline constructing quietly beneath the floor — one that would see Lionel Messi break an all-time FIFA report if he steps onto the pitch towards Puerto Rico.

Final November, throughout Argentina’s 1-0 win over Peru, Messi delivered the help for Lautaro Martínez’s beautiful volley — his 58th help in worldwide soccer. That second introduced him stage with Landon Donovan, the legendary American midfielder, on the very high of the all-time listing.

With 58 assists every, Lionel Messi and Landon Donovan are in a tie for first place in males’s worldwide soccer historical past. Neymar follows simply behind with 57, whereas Cristiano Ronaldo sits additional down with 48.

If Messi data even yet one more help towards Puerto Rico, he would change into the only chief in FIFA’s all-time worldwide help rankings — surpassing Donovan and setting a brand new benchmark for creativity on the worldwide stage.