• Inter Miami manager Tata Martino has issued a fitness update on Lionel Messi after last night’s friendly against Newell’s Old Boys.

The Herons captain was named in the starting XI for the first time in three matches with Luis Suarez also joining Messi in the team, with the duo both playing over an hour.

Messi’s fitness has been a major talking point in recent weeks, with the Argentine starting an international incident in Hong Kong over not being fit enough to start a friendly earlier in the month.

Yet speaking to the Miami Herald, Martino has revealed that Messi’s fitness has never been better, with the attacker fully recovering from an injury issue that has held the forward back in recent weeks.

Martino said when asked about Messi’s fitness after Inter Miami’s friendly against Newell’s Old Boys: “Our plan was for Leo to play 45 to 60 minutes and he played almost 60 and felt good.

“The way he was playing, the way he accelerated, it looked like he is fully recovered. The idea is for him to be ready for the 21st.”

Lionel Messi’s encounter vs Newell’s Old Boys could not have gone more perfect for Inter Miami

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Although Messi didn’t score against his boyhood club, Inter Miami will be delighted with how the evening went with the Argentine international.

Messi was dangerous and alive on the ball and connected well with his teammates, with Inter Miami looking good heading into next week’s MLS opener.

And the attacker playing well over an hour of soccer without picking up a single injury issue is what the Herons will be focusing on the most after this clash.

Indeed, Messi could have easily picked up another fitness issue, yet the forward escaped without even a scratch, and Inter Miami will hope the attacker can play the full 90 next week against Real Salt Lake.