Lionel Messi made a fantastic comeback from his injury! The Inter Miami star scored two goals & helped with another, a great 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Union.
Messi had been out for two months because of an ankle injury; he won the Copa America final. But now, at 37 years old, he was back on the! He even scored two goals in this match and assisted Luis Suarez in another to secure those important three points.
It was surprising when Inter Miami's coach, Tata Martino, decided to start Messi immediately. After all, he has a history of injuries. But Martino kept him on the field for the entire game! When asked about it later, he said he was pleased with how things turned out. He thought it was hard to take Messi off since he affects the game so much.
"I had to keep them both [Messi and Luis Suarez] out there because they bring a special energy," Martino shared after the game.
In the end, it was worth it! Messi had three goal contributions and came through without any issues. "I'm glad he played the whole match and felt good afterward," Martino added.
Now, though, there's a new challenge! The next game is against Atlanta United in just four days. That’s not much time! The team lost two center-backs to injuries during Saturday's game & had two more players with yellow card troubles.
Martino has some choices to make about Messi too. Even when he's well, Inter Miami is careful not to push him too hard. They often consider road games as chances for him to rest. With a solid 10-point lead in the Eastern Conference & Supporters' Shield standings, the Herons can afford to give their superstar some time off as the playoffs draw near.
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