Lionel Messi's return to the pitch for Inter Miami might be delayed further, much to the concern of fans. The Argentine legend, who has not played since sustaining an ankle injury during Argentina’s Copa America final win over Colombia, was seen back in training with his Miami teammates. However, footage captured on Friday revealed Messi having a conversation with the coaching staff while visibly touching his ankle. After this exchange, Messi was observed training alone on the side of the pitch, raising doubts about his availability for Inter Miami's upcoming match against Chicago Fire.
Messi's absence has been keenly felt, though Inter Miami has managed to maintain strong form without their star player, winning seven of their last eight MLS matches. Despite his limited appearances—only 12 matches this season—Messi has made a significant impact, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists. His last domestic appearance came in a 3-3 draw against St. Louis and scored a goal in St. Louis City in June.
As Inter Miami prepares to face Chicago Fire, they sit comfortably at the top of the Eastern Conference with 56 points from 26 matches, leading second-place Cincinnati by eight points. However, Messi’s potential absence continues to be a looming concern, especially with the team’s ambitions for the rest of the season.
