Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will take some time before rejoining Inter Miami CF for the MLS season following their participation in the World Cup with Argentina, sources told ESPN on Monday.
Messi and De Paul both played in the 1-0 World Cup final extra-time loss to Spain, with the Argentina captain playing all 120 minutes. Messi played all eight of Argentina’s games at the World Cup — starting in seven of them.
FIFPRO, the global representative organization for professional footballers, has called for a 21-day rest period at the end of each season for health reasons.
It remains unclear whether the two players will be unavailable for the entirety of the recommended 21 days. Messi and De Paul will plan their respective time off in conjunction with Inter Miami, but sources said both will definitely be out for the matches against Chicago Fire FC on Wednesday, and CF Montréal on Saturday.