Inter Miami manager Tata Martino revealed Lionel Messi is available for selection for the MLS game against Philadelphia Union for the first time since the 2024 Copa America final.
The manager said, “He’s fine. Yesterday he returned to training. He is contemplated for tomorrow’s game, and after training we will define the strategy for him, but he is available.”
“We are going to once again have the best player in the world within the team, so we are all happy about that situation.”
In addition, Martino said, “Yes, there was concern because it came together a bit with everything on the recovery of the ankle and the throat condition he had, which prevented him from training.”
“But he had been training quite well, and we always thought that Philadelphia was the game to return to. Luckily, this lasted only one day.”
“Yesterday he already trained normally; we are just simply taking into account what has happened to define the strategy for tomorrow.”
The former Paris Saint-Germain attacker has been out of action since the 2024 Copa America final against Colombia.
Messi has not played a match for the Inter Miami team since he scored a goal in a 3-3 draw against St. Louis on June 3, 2024.
At international level, Messi has missed Argentina matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.
How Inter Miami Performed Without Lionel Messi in All Competitions
Without the availability of Lionel Messi, Inter Miami have performed beyond expectations, winning 10 out of 13 matches in all competitions since June 3, 2024.
The Inter Miami team are currently on top of the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer with 59 points from 27 matches.
How Old Is Lionel Messi?
Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in the city of Rosario, Argentina. He is currently 37 years old with a height of 5 feet and 7 inches.
Lionel Messi Stats
The Inter Miami star has made 904 appearances, scoring 735 goals and creating 355 assists in all club competitions. He has received 87 yellow cards and two red cards so far in his career.
Out of the 735 goals scored, 672 were for Barcelona, 32 for Paris Saint-Germain, 25 for Inter Miami, and six for Barcelona B.
Messi made his international debut for the Argentina national team on August 17, 2005. He went on to score 109 goals in 187 appearances for the country.
How Old Was Messi When He Won the World Cup?
The Argentine attacker won the 2022 FIFA World Cup with the Argentina national team at the age of 35.
How Rich Is Lionel Messi?
According to Forbes, Messi has a net worth of $135 million. Out of the $135 million net worth, $60 million is from salaries and the $75 million from endorsement deals.
What do you think about Lionel Messi’s return to the Inter Miami squad? Air your views in the comments section.
