Lionel Messi has received medical clearance to return to the field after a two-month recovery from an ankle injury. Inter Miami, the team Messi plays for, announced that he will be back in action when they face Philadelphia on Saturday.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo ”Tata” Martino confirmed Messi’s availability during a press conference before the team’s training session. However, Martino did not disclose whether Messi would start or come off the bench, nor did he mention any plans for limiting his playing time.
Messi’s return is a significant boost for Inter Miami, who currently holds the best record in Major League Soccer (MLS). Despite missing nine consecutive MLS matches and 15 games overall this season due to his injury, Inter Miami has managed to secure a playoff spot and maintain their position at the top of the league standings.
The last time Messi played for Inter Miami was on June 1 before he joined Argentina’s national team for Copa América. Unfortunately, he sustained an ankle injury during the tournament’s final match on July 14. After undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, Messi resumed group training with Inter Miami at the end of August. The team hasn’t played in two weeks due to World Cup qualifying matches, providing additional time for his recovery and conditioning.
Despite missing half of Inter Miami’s games this season, Messi has been highly productive on the field. He has scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists in just 12 MLS appearances. His assist tally ranks third-highest in MLS, while he is tied for 13th place in terms of goals scored.
Fans eagerly await Lionel Messi’s return as they anticipate his impact on future matches and hope that his presence will further solidify Inter Miami’s position as one of MLS’ top teams.
