Inter Miami have received a major boost as Lionel Messi is expected to return to action on Saturday night when the Herons face LA Galaxy at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
The 38-year-old Argentine superstar has been sidelined since August 2, when he suffered a hamstring issue during a Leagues Cup clash against Necaxa. He missed Miami’s 3-1 victory over Pumas UNAM and a heavy 4-1 defeat to Orlando City, but head coach Javier Mascherano has confirmed that Messi is ready to feature again.
“Leo is fine. He’s been training with the team since Wednesday,” Mascherano told reporters, as quoted by UPI. “Unless something unusual happens, he will be available for tomorrow’s game.”
Miami Eyeing Recovery After Setback
Inter Miami currently sit sixth in the MLS Eastern Conference, nine points behind leaders Philadelphia Union but with games in hand. The Herons are also aiming to recover quickly from last weekend’s Florida Derby defeat against Orlando City.
Messi’s return could not come at a better time. The reigning MLS MVP leads the Golden Boot race with 18 goals and nine assists in just 18 league appearances. His output — 1.44 goal contributions per 90 minutes — is the highest in Major League Soccer this season.
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Galaxy Struggling Despite Quality
Despite being the defending MLS Cup champions, LA Galaxy are bottom of the Western Conference with only three wins and a league-high 52 goals conceded. They are also winless in 15 away matches this season.
Still, Mascherano urged caution: “For me, the standings don’t reflect their true quality. They’ve improved a lot in recent months, and we can’t underestimate them.”
Galaxy stars like Marco Reus and Diego Fagundez bring experience, while coach Greg Vanney insists their progress to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals shows signs of revival.
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Critical Week for the Herons
After Saturday’s MLS clash, Inter Miami quickly turn their attention to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals against Mexican giants Tigres UANL. With 10 league games remaining and another potential trophy chase ahead, Messi’s availability could be decisive for Miami’s season run-in.
As reported by OneFootball and MLS Soccer, Messi remains a frontrunner for both the Golden Boot and back-to-back MVP honors.
