Lionel Messi’s fitness has been a massive talking point for Inter Miami fans in the last month, with Argentina issuing an update of sorts.
Messi was not named in Argentina’s squad for the September international break, with the attacker set to remain in Florida to work on recovering from his ongoing ankle injury that has kept the 37-year-old out of action for over a month.
Having missed Inter Miami’s last 11 games, six of which have been due to the injury picked up during the Copa America, Messi’s return to club soccer is long overdue, especially with the Herons facing Supporters’ Shield rivals FC Cincinnati this weekend.
And Inter Miami seem to have a general opinion on if the forward will play on Saturday.
Messi unlikely to feature for Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati this weekend
According to the Miami Herald, Messi is ‘unlikely’ to be ready in time to face Cincinnati this weekend at Chase Stadium, though there is some optimism that the forward could be fit to take on the Chicago Fire on August 31st.
Given how important Messi will be for Inter Miami in final stretch of the regular season going into the play-offs, keeping the 37-year-old out for as long as possible could work in the Herons’ favor in the coming weeks.
Indeed, Messi needs to be 100% fit if Inter Miami are to stand any chance of winning both the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup at the tail-end of this season.
And with Messi set to be rested for this weekend’s clash against Cincinnati, Inter Miami are seemingly going to keep the attacker as fresh as possible heading into the final month of the MLS regular season.
Messi seems as close as ever to returning to MLS action
It’s been over two months since Messi was last seen in Inter Miami colors, with the Copa America and injury robbing the Florida franchise of their greatest asset, even with Tata Martino’s side impressing in the meantime.
Yet after this latest update, Messi seems closer than ever to finally returning to the pitch for Inter Miami, with the attacker likely to be back for the road trip to Chicago right at the end of the month.
With Inter Miami in stellar form without Messi, adding the Greatest of all Time to the mix could make the Herons unstoppable heading into the play-offs, and the Argentine himself will be itching to return to action after so long out.