Lionel Messi: Inter Miami striker ‘sharp’ to face Atlanta and New York in MLS

Lionel Messi will be part of Inter Miami’s squad as they complete a run of three matches in seven days but may not start as he continues his comeback from a two-month injury absence, manager Gerardo Martino has said.

On his first Miami appearance for almost four months, Messi struck twice inside five first-half minutes in his side’s 3-1 comeback win over Philadelphia on Sunday and teed up Luis Suarez for the hosts’ third goal.

The Eastern Conference leaders visit 10th-placed Atlanta United on Wednesday (7.30pm ET) and sixth-placed New York City on Saturday (2pm).

HAD TO BE HIM!! 🐐 pic.twitter.com/GgdoFHFgzu

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 15, 2024

Messi: Atlanta start possible

“He is going to travel to both,” said Martino. “What is yet to be decided is whether he will start or not. There are three games in a week with travel included, so we have to see day-by-day – not only for Leo but for the rest of the players.”

Messi missed almost four months of club football while he captained Argentina to the Copa America 2024 title and was sidelined by an ankle injury the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner sustained in the final against Colombia on July 15.

“When he starts, it is very difficult to bring him off,” acknowledged Martino. “Beyond that, he felt good and it seemed to me that the goal in the final minutes was also good.

“It shows a more fundamental point that he may feel more tired but he never loses his sharpness. As long as he is sharp, anything can happen.”

DOBLETE DEL CAPITÁN 🐐 pic.twitter.com/ZwVv9tILU0

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 15, 2024

Inter Miami injuries

Centre-back David Martinez has a right adductor strain and Matias Roja has a sprained left ankle, while defender Tomas Aviles and Roja’s fellow midfielder Sergio Busquets are suspended against Atlanta.

“We have the joy of the result [against Philadelphia] but we are very depleted and now we will have to see how we will manage it, especially with players returning from suspension, god willing, next Saturday,” said Martino.

Despite his long lay-off, Messi’s 14 goals mean Suarez, on 17, is one of only three players to have scored more than him in this season’s MLS, with former Belgium international Christian Benteke the leading marksman courtesy of 19 for DC United.

Suarez’s latest strike broke the record for the most goals for an Inter Miami player in a single MLS regular season, previously held by one of Messi’s former Argentina team-mates, Gonzalo Higuain.

Messi became the fastest player in MLS history to produce 15 goals and 15 assists, doing so in his first 19 appearances to break Sebastian Giovinco’s record of 29 games for Toronto.