Lionel Messi was called up to the Argentina national team the day after he missed his fourth straight game for Inter Miami.

Messi was included in Lionel Scaloni’s 34-man team for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru, despite his recent injury problems.

Inter Miami’s playoff hopes took a major hit on Wednesday night as they lost 4-1 to Chicago Fire without Messi.

Messi is making progress, according to Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino, who suggested after the game that his player might face FC Cincinnati this coming Saturday.

Martino remarked at a news conference, “Leo is closer to being able to play again.” We’ll know more about his status to play [against Cincinnati] after evaluating him tomorrow and Friday.

Messi wasn’t the only Major League Soccer player, or even the only Inter Miami player, to be selected for Argentina’s roster. Thiago Almada of Atlanta United and Facundo Faras, Messi’s Miami teammate, were also brought in to help.

After first insisting that their superstar player wasn’t hurt, the Miami Dolphins’ head coach, Gerardo “Bobby” Martino, later blamed Messi’s ailment on “muscular fatigue” and subsequently on ancient scar tissue. Martino denied this weekend that an MRI had shown a rupture in his hamstring.

Messi last played on September 20 in a 4-0 victory over Toronto FC, when he was substituted off after 37 minutes.

On October 12, Argentina will host Paraguay, and on October 17, they’ll travel to Peru for a meeting.