Lionel Messi is cleared to return to play after a two-month recovery from an ankle injury and Inter Miami announced that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will return to the lineup when the team hosts Philadelphia on Saturday.
“Messi is available,” said Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino on Friday before the team’s training session.
Martino did not reveal whether Messi would be in the starting line-up or used as a substitute or whether a playing time limit was planned.
His return will give another boost to the club with the best record in Major League Soccer. Messi missed nine consecutive MLS games and 15 games overall this season, yet the team is still the best team in the league and has secured a playoff spot.
Messi’s most recent appearance for Inter Miami was on June 1. He missed some time, first while playing for Argentina at the Copa América, and then because of ankle problems.
Messi was injured playing for Argentina in the Copa América final on July 14. He resumed group training with Inter Miami late last month, and due to a break for ongoing World Cup qualifiers, the team has not played for two weeks – giving him a little more time for recovery and conditioning.
Messi has 12 goals and 13 assists in 12 MLS games this season. Despite missing virtually half of Inter Miami’s games, his 13 assists are the third-most in MLS and he ranks 13th in goals.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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