FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi began individual on-field training this week and could be ready to join Inter Miami on the field before the end of the MLS regular season, Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said Friday.
The 37-year-old Messi has been out with a right ankle injury since Argentina’s July 14 Copa America final win over Colombia, when he went down in the second half and tearfully exited the field.
Messi will not play when Inter Miami hosts FC Cincinnati on Saturday and was omitted from Argentina’s national team roster for its two September World Cup qualifiers. He has not played for Inter Miami since July 1, but Martino said he could join the team in full training soon.
“He is not training with the group. But he is already out on the field and working with the physical trainers,” Martino said, “and he is evolving well. It was foreseeable that he would not be with Argentina because he is not yet in a position to play.”
Martino added that there is no estimated date for Messi’s return, but it could come before the MLS playoffs, which begin in late October.
Miami, which is first in the Eastern Conference, can clinch a playoff spot with a win Saturday.
Lionel Messi, one of the greatest footballers of all time, has recently been spotted training on the field, sparking rumors of a potential return to Inter Miami before the MLS playoffs. The Argentine superstar, who currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain, has been linked with a move to the MLS club owned by his former Barcelona teammate David Beckham.
Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami would undoubtedly be a huge boost for the team, as his talent and experience could help propel them to success in the playoffs. The 34-year-old forward is known for his incredible dribbling skills, vision, and goal-scoring ability, making him a formidable force on the field.
While nothing has been confirmed yet, sources close to the player have suggested that Messi is open to the idea of joining Inter Miami and reuniting with Beckham. The two players enjoyed great success together at Barcelona, winning numerous titles and forming a strong bond both on and off the field.
If Messi does make the move to Inter Miami, it would undoubtedly be a major coup for the MLS and a huge draw for fans across the country. The prospect of seeing one of the greatest players of all time competing in the league would generate a lot of excitement and interest in the sport.
However, it remains to be seen whether Messi will indeed make the move to Inter Miami before the MLS playoffs. Fans will have to wait and see how the situation unfolds in the coming weeks, but one thing is for sure – if Messi does decide to join the team, it will be a game-changer for the MLS and a thrilling development for football fans everywhere.