Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said Friday that Lionel Messi will return to the team’s lineup before the end of the 2024 MLS season.
Messi has been out of action since suffering an ankle ligament injury during the Copa America final on July 14, when Argentina beat Colombia. He was also left out of the national team squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia in September.
Martino said Messi has been doing individual work over the past few days after training only in the gym.
“No (the injury is not more serious than expected) the timing is more or less there,” Martino said on Friday.
“He is not training with the group. But yes, he is already on the pitch and working with the physical trainers. He is progressing well. It was foreseeable that he would not be with Argentina because he is not yet fit to play, but we are still watching him develop. There is no estimate, because we are already starting to see how he feels as the training sessions on the pitch continue.”
“The work is planned by the medical team with the physical trainers. But yes, he will return before the end of the regular season.”
Martino was unable to give an exact timetable for when Messi would return, saying only that “it is not a situation that is too far away.”
Messi last played for Inter Miami on June 1 before leaving to play for his national team ahead of the Copa America. During his absence, the Herons have gone 8-3-0 in all competitions. They were eliminated in the round of 16 of the Leagues Cup by the Columbus Crew, ending their hopes of winning the tournament for a second straight season.
Inter Miami currently leads MLS with 53 points and a 16-4-5 record and can clinch a playoff spot on Saturday night against FC Cincinnati. The postseason is scheduled to begin on Oct. 26.
