Messi returns from Princess of Asturias Award to suit up for Inter Miami

Lionel Messi went from soaking up applause in Oviedo to lacing up his boots again in Fort Lauderdale. Inter Miami's captain traveled to Spain to collect the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, and just hours after the ceremony wrapped up, he was already back with the squad preparing for Saturday's match against the New York Red Bulls.

Head coach Cristian "Kily" Gonzalez confirmed the news at a press conference on Friday, and he didn't hide how much the Argentine's decision to not miss the game meant to him, despite the emotional weight of the past few days. Messi arrived in Oviedo on Thursday and was greeted by hundreds of fans who packed the streets to welcome him, a scene that speaks to the scale of the honor he had just received.

For Gonzalez, what matters isn't just that Messi will be available for the starting lineup, but the gesture behind that decision.

Yes, obviously we have Leo Messi for tomorrow's game, but more than that, what fills me with pride is his commitment to the club and to all of us. After receiving that award, which is a truly important award not for what it means on the field, because we already know what he does there, but for what it says about him as a person, about his values, which everyone sees. That's why he receives these kinds of awards, and it's a privilege. After all the emotion he's experienced in Spain, he took it upon himself to be here with us tomorrow and play. We have to feel proud. It's another message he sends, the way he's committed to the club and the way he wants to do whatever he can for all of us.Cristian "Kily" Gonzalez

The award is no small footnote in the prize's history: it recognizes people and institutions for outstanding achievements in fields such as literature, social sciences, scientific and technical research, international cooperation and sports. When it was announced in June, Messi became the first individual soccer player to receive the honor from the jury.

Eyes on the playoffs and staying atop the table

While all of this was unfolding in Spain, Inter Miami remains firmly in the hunt for the Eastern Conference. The team sits in second place with 55 points through 30 matches and has already clinched its spot in the MLS playoffs, with four matchdays still left in the regular season. Not bad for the reigning MLS Cup champions, who have had an uneven year but haven't lost sight of the goal of defending their title.

Gonzalez addressed exactly that, and he doesn't shy away from the favorites tag despite whatever doubts the team may have raised at points this season.

I like it. Of course I like it, we have to own it. I have the best player in the world. The best player in the world takes on that challenge, and all of us have to back him up. We have to be ready because it's not easy, but we have to accept the challenge. We have to play, be brave and understand that we need to try to win the league. That's how we see it. Obviously we have to improve a lot of things, but we have faith that we're going to get better.Cristian "Kily" Gonzalez

Inter Miami will visit the Red Bulls on Saturday before heading back to Florida to host FC Cincinnati on Wednesday at Nu Stadium, in a final stretch of the calendar where every point could matter when it comes to settling positions ahead of the playoffs.