When could Leo Messi return to action for Inter Miami? | OneFootball

In the lead-up to the clash against Orlando City in the Leagues Cup semi-finals, Javier Mascherano's assistant at Inter Miami, Javier Morales, commented on Leo Messi's presence in the match and left the door open for his return, after he aggravated his muscle injury.

After confirming that La Pulga trained normally with the rest of his teammates, Morales confirmed that they will still wait until before the match to decide whether he is a starter or not: "Jordi (Alba) and Leo trained with us, they did well. They completed the training. We will see how they feel throughout the day. Tomorrow we will make a decision for the match. Luckily they trained and that's super positive. We have to wait".

While the good news that Messi trained alongside his teammates seems to ignite hope, Morales chose caution when elaborating on the matter, emphasizing that muscle injuries are "processes" that occur daily: "We hope he is in the squad. These types of muscle injuries are a process throughout the day, we have to see how he wakes up the next day. I imagine he will be there, but we have not yet sent the list".

Of the last five matches of Inter Miami, Messi only appeared in one of them, against LA Galaxy. Before, he had missed the matches against Pumas and Orlando City due to a muscle discomfort, one that he aggravated against the Los Angeles team and that also made him miss the following clashes against Tigres and DC United. When asked if they had rushed his return, Morales was emphatic: "I don't think so. It's a joint decision, we talk to the medical staff. Then, there are things that happen that go beyond reason. We try to do what's best for the team, but also for the player. Especially with a player like Leo".

If Messi returns to action this Wednesday, for the Leagues Cup, the news will not only be celebrated in Inter Miami but will also be received with joy in the Argentina national team. The captain was included in Lionel Scaloni's preliminary list for the World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela (September 4) and Ecuador (September 9). Thus, while his presence in these matches was never in doubt, La Pulga will be able to arrive with some match practice for what will be the Albiceleste's closing matches in the qualifiers and possibly the last match the Rosario native will play for points with the national team on Argentine soil.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.