“Didn’t he want to stay on vacation?”

Monterrey coach Matias Almeyda has joked about facing Lionel Messi in the Leagues Cup so soon after he played at the FIFA World Cup. The 39-year-old is in line to feature against the Liga MX side in the second game of the Leagues Cup this weekend.

Almeyda spoke to reporters ahead of the game against Inter Miami, joking that that Lionel Messi ought to still be on vacation after the World Cup. He praised him for the love that he has for the game and revealed that he hopes that the veteran does not have a good game when they face off.

“He’s a machine. Even at his age, he keeps amazing you — so much talent, so much desire to play. I was telling my staff, didn’t he want to stay on vacation a little longer? Go out on a boat, spend time with his family? But he came back so fast. Clearly, he loves soccer.

I appreciate that there are still players with that kind of passion. He has everything — truly everything. And he still just wants to play, not take vacations. Now, hopefully on Saturday he’s… I don’t know, maybe not in his best mood”, he said (via AS).

Matias Almeyda joined Monterrey in May, after he was sacked by Sevilla in March of this year. He is assisted by Messi’s ex-teammate, the 34-year-old Erik Lamela, and oversaw a 2-1 defeat to Orlando City in his first Leagues Cup game earlier this week.

Messi returned to action for Inter Miami against Columbus Crew on August 2, just around two weeks after he played in the FIFA World Cup final. He featured against Atletico de San Luis for his first start since the Mundial, scoring two goals and assisting another in a 4-2 win for the Herons.

Lionel Messi claimed Leagues Cup history in win over Atletico de San Luis

Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi began his hunt for a second Leagues Cup title with a historic showing against Atletico de San Luis. He scored twice to become the tournament’s all-time leading scorer in the fourth year of its existence.

Messi contributed two goals in the 11th and 44th minutes and also assisted a goal for Micael before the half-time break. He took his tally in the competition to 14 goals in only 12 appearances since joining Inter Miami.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will be hopeful of a good run in the competition, having won it in 2023 and reached the final last year. Guillermo Hoyos’ side will be without Luis Suarez throughout the competition, with him having picked up a six-game ban during the final last year.