Lionel Messi will keep improving on his run of two goals in three games since returning from injury, Inter Miami manager Gerardo Martino believes.
Captain Messi has completed 90 minutes twice since coming back after an absence of almost four months for the MLS club, partly caused by an ankle injury the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner sustained for Argentina in the Copa America 2024 final against Colombia on July 15.
“When Luis [Suarez] or Diego [Gomez] or Leo come back from an absence, it’s like we’re practically starting over,” said Martino, via the Miami Herald.
“When we were missing players during Copa America and then with Messi’s injury, that was one team. When everyone got healthy and was back, that is a different team. That is what we are getting accustomed to.”
Buen día 👋😄 pic.twitter.com/lgNFZhlloB
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 27, 2024
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Messi: Inter Miami have ‘high hopes’
Messi has 14 goals in 15 games, while new signing and Uruguay retiree Suare has 17 in 23 for a side who lead the Eastern Conference by eight points despite drawing at Atlanta and New York City this week.
“Leo is going to get better and better with each 90 minutes,” said Martino. “Leo does not need to do separate work in training but he needs a rhythm of competition.
“If he continues to play 90 minutes, I feel he will get to the play-offs [starting on October 26] in very good shape because, in addition to the games with us, he has the games with the Argentina national team, so we have high hopes that he will come into the play-offs in very good form.”
Argentina visit Venezuela on October 10 and host Bolivia six days later in 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying. In the meantime, Miami start a run of three matches in six days at home to Charlotte on Sunday (7.30pm ET).
New look for @LuisSuarez9 😎 pic.twitter.com/1Z4ti76HjQ
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 26, 2024
Inter Miami schedule
“Saturday is a key game for us,” observed Martino. “We return home and we have to try to get a win to at least maintain the advantage we have over Columbus and Cincinnati in the standings.
“We are in a critical, decisive stage to finish the season in first place, and we’ll see how the games go. After these three games is the Fifa break, so we want to prioritise these next three games… without risking injuries.”
Sixth placed Charlotte are 23 points behind Miami, who visit third-placed Columbus on Thursday (7.45pm) and Toronto on Saturday (4pm).
“We can’t just concentrate on just one man,” Charlotte manager Dean Smith said of Messi. “He’s a game changer but they have other players who can score as well. We’ll be going there with no fears but full of respect.”
