Messi returns from injury, scores two Inter Miami goals in 3-1 win over Philadelphia
Lionel Messi returned to the Inter Miami lineup Saturday night for the first time in three and a half months, energized his adoring fans and reminded them of the magic they had been missing in his absence.
The 37-year-old Argentine captain, coming off a right ankle injury, scored two first-half goals in a five-minute span and had an assist on Luis Suarez’s extra-time goal as Miami beat the Philadelphia Union 3-1.
Union forward Mikael Uhre’s goal in the second minute had briefly spoiled Messi’s welcome back party and put Miami in an early hole. But the magician in pink came to the rescue, picking up where he left off before his layoff, looking like he had never left.
“To be honest, I am a little tired, the humidity and heat of Miami doesn’t help,” Messi said in a post-match interview with Apple TV. “But, I was very eager to come back, it had been a long time away from the field. Little by little I started training with the group, I felt good, and that is why we made the decision for me to start. I am very happy, very pleased.”
Asked why he left Messi and Suarez in for the entire game, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino explained that both were in good form and the best options to score again . He added: “Look who was involved in the third goal. It is very difficult to take out game changers like them because they show up and deliver at any moment.”
With the win, Inter Miami widened its Eastern Conference lead with six games to go. Miami has 62 points, 10 ahead of second-place Cincinnati. Miami also leads the Supporters Shield race with the league’s best record and would get home field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the final, if it stays on top.
But not all was good news for Miami on Saturday night. The team will head to Wednesday’s road game against Atlanta United without Sergio Busquets, David Martinez, Tomas Aviles and Noah Allen.
Busquets and Aviles are suspended from the next game for accumulation of yellow cards. Martinez left the Philadelphia game early with an abductor injury and Allen, who replaced Martinez, suffered a head injury when he flipped over Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender. Allen may be placed in concussion protocol.
Philadelphia dominated play for the first 20 minutes and would have scored again were it not for two spectacular saves by Callender, who had a huge game just days after becoming a father. Then, when Miami fans were starting to worry, starting to gripe about shoddy defense, Messi showed why he is the most revered player in the world.
He scored the equalizing goal in the 27th minute, collecting a pass from Suarez in the box, getting around defender Kai Wagner with a clever move and then launching a perfect shot with his right foot. Jordi Alba got the sequence started, centering the ball from the left side to his former FC Barcelona teammates.
Messi was engulfed by his jubilant teammates and the near-sellout crowd of 20,915 at Chase Stadium went wild.
But he wasn’t done.
Four minutes later, Alba and Messi connected again. This time it was Messi’s left foot doing the damage. He shot the ball from the center of the box to the bottom right corner for the go-ahead goal.
Suarez appeared to make it 3-1 just before halftime, but the goal was overturned after a VAR review. He scored one that counted in extra time, bringing his season total to 17 goals, two shy of the Golden Boot leader Christian Benteke of D.C. United.
Messi has scored 14 goals and has 14 assists in 13 league games so far this season. With a brace, Messi has produced 15 goals and 16 assists in his first 19 MLS games, becoming the fastest player in league history to do so.
He missed five games in June and July while playing for Argentina in Copa America, and then missed eight more after injuring ligaments in his right ankle during the Copa final on July 14 at Hard Rock Stadium.
Messi returned to training three weeks ago, sat out practice Wednesday due to a head cold, but was back with the team on Thursday. The only question was whether he would start or come off the bench.
Clearly, he was not only ready to start, but to go 90 minutes.
Asked on Friday what it would mean for the team to get Messi back, Martino smiled and replied: “To get back the best player in the world to our team, which was already on a good run, we are all very happy with this situation.”
Midfielder Robert Taylor said he did not anticipate there being much of an adjustment period with Messi’s return to the lineup.
“Of course, two months is a long time, for anyone, but he’s the best player there is,” Taylor said. “So, I don’t think we’ll see much of a different Messi than we’ve seen before.”
Taylor was correct.
Union coach Jim Curtin praised his 11th place team for hanging with Miami, saying it was a valuable lesson for his younger players: “I can’t overestimate the value of these types of games for our group because I don’t think people understand how good the level of play is [from the Miami stars]. We all know they’re world-class players, but they’re also world-class competitors. They want to win everything and were ruthless on the night.”
The goal all season has been to win MLS Cup, and Messi said that remains a realistic goal.
“We know the squad we have, and it is a goal,” he said. “The truth is, throughout the year we’ve had a lot of bad luck with injuries. We were never at full strength. Due to one thing or another we were always missing players., but the team always pushed forward. Today we are in first place with a big lead, and deservedly so. Hopefully, we can finish at the top.”
Inter Miami’s Starting XI included: Drake Callender, David Martinez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Tomas Aviles, Fede Redondo, Marcelo Weigandt, Diego Gomez, Messi, Luis Suarez, Julian Gressel.
Ian Fray, Yannick Bright, Benja Cremaschi and David Ruiz came in off the bench.
Out: CJ dos Santos (hand), Matias Rojas (ankle), Nico Freire (knee), Facundo Farias (knee), Leo Afonso (groin).
This story was originally published September 14, 2024 at 6:46 PM.