Lionel Messi is set to return to action with his club Inter Miami on Saturday after spending over two months out with an ankle injury, Miami coach Gerardo Martino said on Friday.
“Yes, he is fine,” Martino said before training Friday. “He trained (Thursday), he is in the plans for the game. After training we will figure out the strategy for him, but he is available,” added the Argentine.
Lionel Messi returned to group training with Inter Miami late August, more than six weeks after the Argentina captain left the Copa America final with a badly sprained right ankle, but was then ruled out once again.
Messi hasn’t played for the club since June 1, missing time first while playing for Argentina in the Copa America tournament and then because of the ankle issue.
Messi has 12 goals and 13 assists in 12 MLS games with Inter Miami this season. He’s missed 14 of the club’s league matches, including each of the last eight either because he was playing for Argentina or recovering from the ankle injury.
He has also this month’s World Cup qualifiers for his country.
Messi last played on July 14, leaving in the second half of Argentina’s win over Colombia in the Copa America final. He was dealing with leg issues throughout that tournament, plus left the field briefly in the first half of the final because of a left ankle issue — then got hurt again in the second half and had to leave for good.
Inter Miami, who lead the Eastern Conference and are top of the overall standings, host the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
“To get back the best player in the world to our team, which was already on a good run, we are all very happy with this situation,” said Martino.
Inter Miami is the only team so far to have clinched a playoff berth and is currently four points clear — with a match in hand — over the LA Galaxy for the best overall record in MLS.
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