August is about to fade away in a moment in time, and there is still no sign of Lionel Messi. The Argentine superstar has not seen action for months, as the captain remains sidelined due to an ankle injury he sustained during the Copa America final. However, there is finally long-awaited news regarding Messi’s return date, after it was announced that La Pulga is set to miss the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
In his absence, the atmosphere has been rather bittersweet. Every press conference has seen strange silences from Tata Martino when asked about the 37-year-old’s return date. However, Argentine journalist Hernan Claus has an answer for fans. According to @AlbicelesteTalk on X, Messi remains focused on his rehabilitation. The forward is working on strengthening his ankle and moving forward cautiously. Although the Barcelona legend has yet to join group training, he is expected to rejoin his teammates soon.
Claus then mentioned the day when fans could see him in action: “There is hope that he could play some minutes against Chicago Fire on August 31, but the key target is the September 14 match against Philadelphia Union.” The journalist added: “Inter Miami is patient, aiming to have him fully fit for the playoffs that start at the end of October, with the goal of winning the MLS.” Finally, a tentative date that everyone had been waiting for for so long. Inter Miami will first have to play another match without Messi on August 24 against Cincinnati, and then the Ballon d’Or winner is expected at their disposal. However, it is very likely that the David Beckham-owned club will look to release their star cautiously.
In the meantime, Messi has plenty of time to rest and recover. After all, he will also be responsible for fulfilling Inter Miami’s title hopes and making them a reality. Lionel Messi is the necessary boost that Inter Miami requires!
In the absence of the former PSG superstar, Tata Martino’s team has put in a more than impressive performance. Inter Miami won most of their MLS matches, occupying first place in the Eastern Conference with a total of 53 points. They even have a 5-point lead over rivals Cincinnati. Their lead could soon shrink, especially since the next opponent is the team in second place.
Miami lost 6-1 against Cincinnati, not to mention that they also carry the burden of their recent slip-up in the Leagues Cup. The defending champions were eliminated from the race to defend their title for the second time in a row, losing 2-3 against Columbus Crew. Therefore, nothing would be a huge confidence booster for Inter Miami like seeing their captain return to action. Having Lionel Messi would significantly boost the Florida team’s chances of winning the MLS trophy. There is no need to remind them that this is all they have in terms of trophies. Therefore, the race to fitness remains a challenge for Lionel Messi, who looks to support his national team in winning titles.
