Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano has provided an update on Lionel Messi's fitness ahead of their crucial Club World Cup match against Porto. Despite concerns arising from a training video, Mascherano has confirmed that Messi is fit and available for selection. The match is scheduled to take place on Thursday in Atlanta.

Speculation about Messi's fitness surfaced after a video emerged showing him touching his left leg during a training session on Wednesday. This naturally led to worries among fans about a potential injury. However, Mascherano quickly dispelled those concerns, assuring everyone that the Argentine superstar is ready to play.

"On the trip from Miami to Atlanta I saw that came out in some places, but Leo is fit, he trained, he completed the whole session," Mascherano told reporters. "He was touching his leg, sometimes people touch themselves, but there's no problem, he's fit and obviously he will play tomorrow."

Adding to the positive news, Mascherano also announced that Jordi Alba, Messi's former Barcelona teammate, is available after recovering from an injury that kept him out of the opening 0-0 draw against Al Ahly. When asked if Alba would start, Mascherano teased, "We'll evaluate what's best for us, if he starts or not. Actually, I already know but I won't tell you."

Looking ahead to the match against Porto, Mascherano emphasized the importance of maintaining possession. He acknowledged that Porto, a regular participant in the Champions League, would pose a significant challenge. "We have players who feel much more comfortable when they're in possession, dominating, and having control of the game through the ball," Mascherano stated. "Of course, we're facing a team that also is used to doing that, who are a high-level side. But on the pitch we're 11 against 11, we'll try to shut down their strengths, expose their weaknesses and try to have a great game to get a good result."

Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets, another former Barcelona teammate, echoed Mascherano's sentiments about the difficulty of the upcoming match. "They have very good players, they have reinforced and we know that it will be very difficult," Busquets said. "They are a team that compete every year for their league, against other great teams like Sporting and Benfica. We will try to be as solid as possible, stick together, and keep a clean sheet."

With Messi declared fit and Alba back in contention, Inter Miami will be looking to secure their first win of the Club World Cup against a strong Porto side. The game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams vying for a crucial victory in Group A.