Lionel Messi made a remarkable impact in his first season with Inter Miami, despite joining the team midway through the campaign. His outstanding contribution played a pivotal role in securing Inter Miami’s first-ever silverware, earning him the MVP for the 2023 season, despite facing challenges with injuries.
Dispelling any speculations about a return to Barcelona and the prospect of reuniting with his former teammate Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi is set to deliver another incredible season for Inter Miami in the MLS, promising fans and the team a stellar performance.
Inter Miami announces its first preseason game
Inter Miami CF is scheduled to kick off their 2024 preseason with an exhibition match against the El Salvador national team, as announced by the club on Thursday.
This upcoming pre-season fixture against the El Salvador national team is part of Inter Miami’s preparations for the 2024 season. This season promises to be particularly eventful for the club, as they are set to make their debut in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The qualification for this prestigious tournament was secured through their 2023 League Cup title.
It is set to be a fresh start for Lionel Messi as he embarks on a full season with Inter Miami. The preseason match is set to take place at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador on Friday, January 19, 2024, with the kickoff at 8 pm ET.
Chris Henderson, the Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director of Inter Miami, expressed enthusiasm about unveiling the preseason plans and preparations for the upcoming 2024 campaign. In a released statement, Henderson stated, “We look forward to facing the El Salvador national team in what will be a good first test for our squad against the best players from the country.”
The El Salvador national team, led by Spanish manager Rubén de la Barrera, currently holds the No. 78 position in the latest FIFA rankings. In their recent performances, they secured two draws in November friendlies against Curaçao and actively participated in both the Concacaf Gold Cup and Nations League tournaments earlier this year.
Soccer community reacts to Inter Miami vs El Salvador announcement
As Lionel Messi prepares to start a full season with Inter Miami in a pre-season friendly against El Salvador predicted encounter with River Plate to follow, fans express their enthusiasm. They are excited not only because it is the start of a new MLS season, but because Lionel Messi returns to the pitch for club football.
Some Lionel Messi and Inter Miami fans on twitter commented “we will be there” while another predicted that Messi will score 5 goals against El Savador.
Inter Miami fans were highly delighted in Messi’s mid-season inclusion in the recently concluded MLS season, now they are eager to see how much higher the team can soar with Messi’s incolvement from the very start.
