Inter Miami hosted LA Galaxy on Saturday night at Chase Stadium in MLS play. With the match level late, Lionel Messi marked his return from injury in spectacular fashion, delivering the decisive goal for the home side.
After recovering from a hamstring injury suffered against Necaxa in the Leagues Cup earlier this month, Messi rejoined full training with Inter Miami this week. To avoid any setbacks, the Argentine began the match on the bench before making his return at the start of the second half.
The Herons broke the deadlock late in the first half when Sergio Busquets threaded a pinpoint pass to Jordi Alba, who finished clinically in the 43rd minute. But in the 59th, Joseph Paintsil pulled Galaxy level with a brilliant solo run down the left flank, setting the stage for Messi’s decisive moment.
In the 83rd minute, Messi received a pass from Rodrigo De Paul facing goal and with a sharp dribble slipped past Galaxy defender Lucas Sanabria. Finding space, he unleashed a powerful strike that beat goalkeeper Novak Mićović, giving Miami the advantage in the game.
But Messi’s influence didn’t stop with his goal. In the 88th minute, he flicked a clever backheel pass from Rodrigo De Paul’s feed into the path of Luis Suarez, who calmly slotted past the keeper to seal a 3-1 victory and secure all three points for the home side.
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Messi raises concern despite clutch performance
After two weeks on the sideline working separately from the squad, Messi returned to action and once again proved vital for Inter Miami. Yet despite his match-winning display, questions remain over his fitness.
Throughout the second half, Messi was seen touching his right hamstring, the same area injured against Necaxa. He also ceded corner-kick duties and offered only a subdued celebration after scoring, signs that he may still be managing discomfort.
At the final whistle, Messi headed straight to the locker room, further fueling speculation about his condition. With a Leagues Cup quarterfinal against Tigres UANL looming on Wednesday, the fitness of Miami’s biggest star will be closely monitored.
