Lionel Messi‘s latest Leagues Cup heroics have given Matias Almeyda plenty to joke about ahead of Saturday’s clash between Monterrey and Inter Miami. The Rayados coach admitted he hopes Messi “doesn’t feel like playing” this weekend, poking fun at the Argentine’s red-hot form since returning from his post-World Cup vacation.
That form was on full display in Miami’s Leagues Cup opener against Atletico San Luis, where Messi scored a brace in a 4-2 comeback win. After the Mexican side struck inside four minutes, Messi equalized in the 13th and put Miami ahead for good in the 32nd, as they rallied at Nu Stadium. The brace also made him the competition’s all-time leading scorer with 14 goals, surpassing Denis Bouanga.
After Messi’s outstanding performance against Atletico San Luis, Almeyda was asked about the display put on by his side’s next Leagues Cup opponent. “Yes, I watched the match… And well, what can I say? He’s [Messi] a machine. He truly keeps amazing, despite his age: so much talent, so much desire to play,” the coach said in a press conference.
Faced with the Argentine’s brilliant form, Almeyda joked that he could have stayed on vacation to avoid facing him. “Today I was just telling my teammates: ‘Didn’t he feel like staying on vacation a bit longer? I don’t know, going on a boat, being with the family,’” he joked.
Lionel Messi celebrates a goal vs Atletico San Luis. (Getty Images)
The coach also praised Messi’s enduring passion for the game, saying he’s grateful players like him still exist and that, unlike most, Messi “doesn’t want vacations, he wants to play“.
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A pivotal Matchday 2
Saturday’s meeting is the second matchday of the Leagues Cup 2026 group stage, and the two sides arrive in very different form. Inter Miami sit second in the MLS group with three points after their 4-2 comeback win over Atletico de San Luis, while Monterrey have zero points following their 2-1 loss to Orlando City in their opener.
The stakes differ accordingly. A win would leave Inter Miami one step away from securing a spot in the knockout rounds for a fourth straight edition of the tournament, while also extending their strong home record in the competition.
Monterrey, on the other hand, face a must-win scenario: they’ve dropped two of their last three matches across all competitions and haven’t beaten MLS opposition in normal time in their last seven meetings, meaning another defeat would leave their hopes of advancing badly compromised.
