Of all the players who were called up for their national team, the Argentine talisman is undoubtedly the most influential, adding a goal that will go down in history.
Víctor Martín J.VictorMartJimCalum RocheEnglish_ASUpdate: Sep 11th, 2023 08:14 EDT
Inter Miami is experiencing what could be described as its ‘most international’ moment. A total of five first-team players have been called up by their respective national teams for their commitments in this month of September FIFA break. Three of them, including the star player of the Florida project, Lionel Messi, are participating in the start of the South American Qualifiers, while the other two are focused on the European Championship qualifying phase.
Inter Miami’s players on FIFA duty
Among all of The Herons to take flight, Messi is undoubtedly the most productive player for his nation. While it is true that the rest are playing relatively secondary roles, Argentina’s number 10 emerged, once again, as the true hero in what was an agonizing one-goal victory over Ecuador.
Now, with the second part of this FIFA period on the horizon, those back in Miami are counting the days for the team’s proud internationals to return to its ranks and continue their journey towards climbing the table, and into an unlikely playoff position. Unlike other leagues, the MLS has not halted during this period, and the Herons continue to compete with an alternate lineup as they await the return of their global stars.
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CLIFF HAWKINSAFP
Lionel Messi – Argentina
The Argentine star continues to make history with the Albiceleste. In the opening match of the South American Qualifiers against Ecuador, the captain once again left the world in awe with a direct free-kick goal that translated into three points for his team. With just ten minutes remaining, the little magician placed the ball into the top corner, which made him just the fifth player in history with the most free-kick goals.
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Messi’s goal for Argentina against Ecuador.JUAN MABROMATAAFP
Diego Gómez – Paraguay
A bittersweet taste for Paraguay. The central midfielder was a starter in the heart of the Albirroja in a highly competitive match, but they couldn’t find the back of the net. Despite Paraguay’s dominance from start to finish, Gallese and the woodwork resulted in a shared point, one that feels more like a loss. Gómez had just over an hour to showcase his potential at the age of 20.
Sergiy Kryvtsov – Ukraine
The veteran Ukrainian center-back exceeded expectations. In the Euro 2024 qualifying match against England, Kryvtsov had the challenging task of stepping in at halftime to bolster the defense. After a hard-fought battle against a determined ‘Three Lions’ seeking a goal, the 32-year-old center-back played a crucial role in keeping the score unchanged, allowing his team to secure an important point.
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Kryvtsov battles with England’s Ben Chilwell.Maciej KulczynskiEFE
