Messi will return to MLS training 10 days after the World Cup final crisis | Football News

Lionel Messi will return to Inter Miami after World Cup final defeats to Argentina and Spain, prompting retirement rumours.

Soccer star Lionel Messi is back training for Inter Miami, 10 days after Argentina’s World Cup campaign ended with a 1-0 loss to Spain in the final earlier this month.

The two-time defending MLS MVP missed Miami’s first two post-World Cup games against Chicago and Montreal, both of which the team still won, extending their winning streak to six games.

The 39-year-old also opted not to participate in Wednesday night’s MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star Game in Charlotte, instead visiting his father, Jorge, who Messi’s family announced at the World Cup was battling an undisclosed illness.

Messi finished this year’s World Cup, his record sixth, with eight goals and four assists, winning one victory to lead Argentina to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

He was the first player to break Miroslav ⁠Klose’s World Cup career record with the 17th in Argentina’s second game, but French forward Kylian Mbappe finished the World Cup one goal ahead of Messi, 22 to 21.

Inter Miami (11-2-4, 37 points) is two points behind Nashville SC at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. It remains unclear whether Messi’s return will come in Saturday’s home game against the Columbus Crew.

There was speculation that Messi would not only end his international career after the World Cup, but that he could also call for playing time in the national team.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward has won eight Ballon d’Or titles, the annual award for the player voted the best player in the world that year.