Lionel Messi returns to MLS club Inter Miami after two-month absence | Football News

The Argentine star is available for Miami’s MLS match against Philadelphia after being out of action since July 14 with a sprained ankle.

Lionel Messi will return to action for his Major League Soccer club, Inter Miami, after being out for more than two months with an ankle injury, Miami coach Gerardo Martino confirmed.

Messi has not played since spraining his right ankle during Argentina’s July 14 win over Colombia in the 2024 Copa America final. He last played for Inter Miami on June 1 but will be available for selection against the visiting Philadelphia Union on Saturday, Martino said.

“Yes, he is doing well now,” Martino told reporters on Friday.

“He started training again yesterday. He is scheduled for tomorrow’s match and after training we will decide the strategy for him, but he is available. We are going to have the best player in the world in the team again, so we are all happy with that situation.”

Messi missed Wednesday’s training due to a sore throat, but took part in the Herons’ training session on Thursday.

“Fortunately (the sore throat) only lasted one day. Yesterday he trained normally. Let’s hope he continues to develop today,” Martino said. “It’s about taking everything that happened into account to determine the strategy.”

Inter Miami are closing in on the Supporters’ Shield and first place in the Eastern Conference play-offs with 59 points from 27 games.

The 37-year-old forward has 12 goals and 13 assists in just 12 MLS games this season, the fastest 25-goal contribution in league history.

He has missed eight MLS games for his club and this month’s World Cup qualifiers for his country.

World champions and Copa America winners Argentina were without their great captain on Tuesday as the team suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Colombia.