Lionel Messi is set to make his return to the field for Inter Miami, his Major League Soccer club, after being sidelined for over two months due to an ankle injury. Miami coach Gerardo Martino confirmed that Messi will be available for selection in their upcoming game against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday. The Argentine star has not played since spraining his right ankle during Argentina’s victory over Colombia in the 2024 Copa America final on July 14. Although he last played for Inter Miami on June 1, Martino expressed confidence in Messi’s fitness and availability.
Martino assured reporters on Friday that Messi is now fully recovered and has returned to training. He stated, ”Yes, he’s fine now… We are going to once again have the best player in the world within the team, so we are all happy about that situation.” Despite missing Wednesday’s session due to a sore throat, Messi participated in Thursday’s training with no issues.
Inter Miami currently sits close to securing the Supporters’ Shield and claiming the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference with an impressive tally of 59 points from 27 games. The team has greatly missed Messi’s contributions during his absence. In just 12 MLS matches this season, he has already recorded an outstanding total of 12 goals and 13 assists – making him the fastest player in league history to reach 25 goal contributions.
Messi’s absence also affected Argentina as they suffered a surprising loss against Colombia earlier this week during World Cup qualifiers. The national team missed their talismanic captain dearly during this defeat.
With Lionel Messi back on board, Inter Miami hopes to continue their successful campaign and secure further victories as they strive towards their playoff aspirations.
