Lionel Messi made his much anticipated return to training with Inter Miami on Wednesday.
The 37-year-old has not played since Argentina’s Copa America Final success against Colombia on July 14.
Lionel Messi ya entrena junto al resto del equipo de @InterMiamiCF , aumentando las expectativas sobre su regreso a las canchas⚽️👏🏽
📽️: @fpetrocelli#InterMiamiCF | #Messi | #MLS | #Miami pic.twitter.com/MA1fjISaar
— AS USA (@US_diarioas) August 28, 2024
He was substituted 24 minutes from the end of normal time with an ankle injury which has sidelined him ever since.
Argentina went on to win 1-0 through Lautaro Martinez’s extra-time goal.
Messi was seen in action for the first time in weeks in Inter Miami’s open training session in front of the cameras on Wednesday, joining the squad for the full session and showed no ill effects.
Though he has missed 14 matches this season through injury and the Copa America, Messi has scored 12 goals and laid-on nine assists in 12 MLS games.
He has not featured for his club since the 3-3 draw with St Louis City on June 2 – though his teammates have won seven of their eight games since then.
With an Eastern Conference play-off place already secured, Sunday’s trip to face Chicago Fire at Soldier Field will likely come too soon for his return to the line-up.
It is the final MLS game before the international break – with Messi not called into the Argentina squad for World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.
A more likely return date is the visit of Philadelphia Union to Chase Stadium on Saturday, September 14.
