Lionel Messi is expected to be available for Inter Miami for the first time in three months on Saturday when the team takes on Philadelphia Union.
“Yes, he’s doing well,” Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino said Friday, per the Miami Herald. “He trained [Thursday]he is in the plans for the game [Saturday]. After training we will come up with the strategy for him, but he is available.”
Messi has not played for Inter Miami since June 1 and has been out of action since suffering an ankle ligament injury in the Copa América final when Argentina beat Colombia on July 14. He was also left out of the national team squad for their 3-0 win over Chile and 2-1 loss to Colombia in last week’s World Cup qualifiers.
Martino said in late August that Messi would return before the MLS playoffs begin on Oct. 23, but could not give a definitive date at the time.
In Messi’s absence, Inter Miami have gone 10-3-1 in all competitions. They were knocked out of the Leagues Cup in the round of 16 by Columbus Crew, dashing their hopes of winning the tournament for the second season in a row.
Inter Miami currently leads MLS with 59 points and an 18-4-5 record. They are the only team to secure a playoff spot and lead the Los Angeles Galaxy by seven points in the race for the Supporters’ Shield.
“To bring back the best player in the world to our team, which had already had a good period, so we are all very happy with this situation,” said Martino.
