Inter Miami fans will be thrilled to see Lionel Messi back in action for the first time in three months when they take on the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night.
The star player has been sidelined since June 1 due to an ankle ligament injury sustained during the Copa América final on July 14. Despite missing recent World Cup qualifiers with the national team, Messi has been training and is set to make his return.
Inter Miami’s head coach Tata Martino confirmed Messi’s availability for the upcoming match, stating, “He trained [Thursday], he is in the plans for the game [Saturday]. After training we will figure out the strategy for him, but he is available.”
Back in August, Martino had mentioned that Messi would be back before the start of the MLS playoffs on Oct. 23, although an exact return date was uncertain at the time.
During Messi’s absence, Inter Miami has been performing well with a record of 10-3-1 in all competitions. Despite being eliminated from the Leagues Cup, the team currently leads MLS with 59 points and looks strong heading into the playoffs.
With Messi’s return, Inter Miami is poised to maintain their position at the top of the league standings and compete for the Supporters’ Shield. Martino expressed his excitement about having the best player in the world back on the team, adding to their already impressive form.