Messi return is confirmed as the football star prepares to play for Inter Miami on Saturday. After more than two months sidelined with an ankle injury, Messi is ready to make his comeback, according to Miami coach Gerardo Martino.
“Yes, he is fine,” Martino said before Friday’s training session. “He trained on Thursday and is in the plans for the game. We will finalize the strategy after training, but Messi is available,” the Argentine coach added.
Inter Miami, currently leading the Eastern Conference and overall standings, will host Philadelphia Union on Saturday. Messi sustained his right ankle injury during the Copa America final on July 14, where he helped Argentina secure victory over Colombia.
Since that injury, Messi has missed eight MLS games and Argentina’s recent World Cup qualifiers. Martino expressed the team’s excitement, saying, “We are thrilled to have the best player in the world back with us, especially since the team has been performing well.”
Inter Miami has already secured a playoff spot in the MLS Cup. However, their seeding depends on their performance in the regular season, which ends on October 19. The playoffs are set to start the following week, culminating in the MLS Cup on December 7.
Miami winger Robert Taylor also shared his enthusiasm about the Messi return, saying it has given the squad a significant boost. “We were already confident, but having Messi back in training has added even more belief. Hopefully, he will be ready to play soon,” Taylor told the Miami Herald.
Taylor praised Messi’s competitive spirit in training. “He competes in everything, whether it’s football tennis, rondos, or small-sided games. He wants to win every time, and that drives everyone else to match his level,” Taylor noted.
Despite Messi’s two-month absence, Taylor doesn’t expect any decline in the superstar’s form. “Two months is a long time for anyone, but Messi is the best player there is. I don’t think we’ll see any difference in his performance,” Taylor concluded.
Messi’s return will surely lift Inter Miami as they gear up for the final stretch of the season.
