Lionel Messi trained with his Inter Miami teammates for the first time this week since Argentina's World Cup final heartbreak, but whether he actually takes the field against Columbus Crew on Saturday night remains an open question.

Messi landed back in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, only around ten days after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain, well inside the 21-day rest window FIFA grants players after the tournament. He was out on the training pitch with the squad within hours of arriving, ONE reports.

Asked directly about Messi's availability, Inter Miami's interim head coach Guillermo Hoyos stopped short of any promise. "He arrived a short time ago, so we haven't had the chance to discuss it properly yet," Hoyos said. "But we are happy he and De Paul returned."

Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's Argentina teammate and international-tournament roommate, returned to training on the same day and finds himself in an identical spot — back with the club, but with no guarantee of a place in the squad this weekend.

Hoyos only took interim charge of Inter Miami in April, after Javier Mascherano stepped down citing personal reasons just four months after leading the club to its first MLS Cup title. He now faces an early selection dilemma over how to handle his two returning World Cup finalists.

US media reports the club may prefer to be cautious with Messi and hold him back for his official comeback in the Leagues Cup, which opens on Wednesday against Atlético San Luis — part of a group stage that also includes Monterrey and León at home.

The timing is not desperate for Inter Miami. The club arrives on a six-match unbeaten run and sits second in the MLS Eastern Conference, two points behind leaders Nashville SC in the race for the Supporters' Shield.

They will still be shorthanded regardless of Messi's status. Forward Germán Berterame remains out after being taken away by ambulance following a head collision in the win over CF Montreal on July 25, while Telasco Segovia and Ian Fray are suspended and Tadeo Allende is sidelined through injury.

For now, Inter Miami fans will have to wait until closer to kickoff to learn whether their captain features — with the club seemingly in no rush to rush him back before he is ready.