Monterrey coach Matías Almeyda employed humor when discussing the upcoming Leagues Cup encounter between his team and Inter Miami, featuring Lionel Messi. Following Monterrey’s loss to Orlando City, Almeyda joked about his Argentine compatriot’s rapid return to competition after the World Cup.
“¿No tenía ganas de quedarse de vacaciones un poco más?” (“Didn’t you want to stay on vacation a bit longer?”) Almeyda quipped, suggesting Messi might have benefited from additional rest following Argentina’s lengthy World Cup campaign. The Argentine manager noted that Messi could have taken time to enjoy a yacht or spend time with family, given the demanding nature of the tournament—Argentina played seven matches to reach the final, three of which went to extra time.
“I just told my colleague: ‘Didn’t he want to stay on vacation a bit longer? I don’t know, go on a boat, be with family,’ and he came back so quickly,” Almeyda said. Despite the lighthearted tone, Almeyda praised Messi’s dedication and professionalism. “He’s a machine and really continues to amaze despite his age; he has so much talent, so much desire to play,” the coach stated.
Almeyda balanced his humor with genuine respect for Messi’s commitment to the sport. “I appreciate that players with that passion still exist. He has everything, absolutely everything. And all he wants is to play, not take vacations,” he said. However, Almeyda playfully added, “I hope that on Saturday… I don’t know, maybe he won’t be at his best.”
The match is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, at the NU Stadium. Inter Miami enters the contest in strong form after defeating Atlético San Luis with Messi scoring twice and providing an assist. With those goals, Messi became the all-time leading scorer in Leagues Cup history with 14 goals across 12 matches in the competition. He was also the tournament’s top scorer in 2023. The next closest scorer is Denis Bouanga with 13 goals, followed by several players with 7 goals each.
Key facts
- Monterrey faces Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup on August 8 at NU Stadium
- Almeyda joked that Messi should have extended his post-World Cup vacation
- Messi is the all-time leading scorer in Leagues Cup history with 14 goals in 12 matches
- Inter Miami defeated Atlético San Luis with Messi scoring a brace and an assist