By Inter Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino confirmed that Lionel Messi will return to the lineup for Saturday’s match against the Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Messi is back in action after recovering from a right ankle sprain, which he suffered during the 2024 Copa América final on July 14.
Martino expressed his excitement about Messi’s return, saying, “He’s fine. Yesterday, he returned to training. He is being considered for tomorrow’s game, and after training, we will finalize the strategy for him, but he is available. We are once again going to have the best player in the world within the team, so we are all happy about that situation.”
Concerns about Messi’s availability had emerged earlier in the week after he missed Wednesday’s training session due to a sore throat. However, Martino clarified that Messi’s illness lasted only one day and was unrelated to his previous ankle injury. The superstar returned to training on Thursday and fully participated in Friday’s session.
Martino acknowledged that there were some worries when Messi’s illness occurred during his ankle recovery. “Yes, there was concern because it came together with everything – the recovery of the ankle and the throat condition, which prevented him from training,” Martino explained. “But he had been training quite well, and we always aimed for the Philadelphia game as his return to action. Fortunately, the illness only lasted a day, and yesterday he trained normally. We’re just taking into account what has happened to define the strategy for tomorrow.”
Messi’s return comes at a crucial time for Inter Miami, as they sit at the top of the Supporters’ Shield and Eastern Conference standings with 59 points from 27 matches. The team is on pace to break the Major League Soccer (MLS) record for the most points accumulated in a single regular season. In addition to their dominant league form, Inter Miami has already secured a playoff spot for the 2024 MLS season, bouncing back after failing to qualify for the postseason in 2023.
Messi’s presence will be vital as Miami continues its quest for MLS glory. His return adds to the team’s momentum as they aim to set new records and solidify their position as one of the top contenders for the MLS Cup.
