Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino announced on Friday that Lionel Messi is expected to make his return to the team’s lineup before the conclusion of the 2024 MLS season.
Messi has been sidelined since sustaining an ankle ligament injury during the Copa América final on July 14 while representing Argentina in their victory over Colombia. He was also omitted from the national team’s roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia in September.
Martino revealed that Messi has been undergoing individual training for the past few days after initially focusing on gym workouts.
“No [the injury is not more serious than anticipated], the times are more or less there,” Martino said Friday.
“He is not training with the group. But yes, he is already out on the field and working with the physical trainers. He is developing well, it was foreseeable that he would not be with Argentina because he is not yet in a position to play, but we continue to see him develop. There is no estimate, because you are already starting to see how you feel as you add training on the field.”
“The work is planned by the medical part with the physical trainers. But yes, he returns before the end of the regular season.”
Martino refrained from providing a specific timeline for Messi’s comeback, stating only that “it is not a situation that is too far away.”
Messi’s last appearance for Inter Miami was on June 1 before departing for international duty ahead of Copa América. In his absence, the team has performed admirably with an 8-3-0 record in all competitions. However, they were eliminated in the Round of 16 of the Leagues Cup by the Columbus Crew, ending their quest for a second consecutive tournament victory.
Despite Messi’s absence, Inter Miami currently leads the MLS standings with 53 points and a 16-4-5 record. They have the opportunity to secure a playoff berth on Saturday night against FC Cincinnati, with the postseason scheduled to commence on October 26.