Lionel Messi is back on the pitch. The Inter Miami captain caused concern for the team and soccer fans after suffering a strained left hamstring on Wednesday, February 11, ahead of the preseason friendly against Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico, which had to be rescheduled for February 26.
However, ahead of the start of a new MLS season, Leo joined the club’s training sessions with his teammates on Wednesday, February 18, filling fans with hope.
Messi returned to training
Doubts surrounding the ’10’ and the possibility that he would miss the start of the regular season with the MLS Cup champions and title defenders (won in December last year) have begun to dissipate.
For several days, the 39-year-old footballer had stayed away from group training, and there was even speculation that he might not only miss these games but also his commitments with the Argentina national team ahead of the Finalissima and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Now, three days before Inter Miami’s visit to Los Angeles FC, the team has reassured fans by sharing several photos on its official accounts showing the Argentine star in training with coach Javier Mascherano.
The fans‘ enthusiasm and relief and surprise at seeing him back on the pitch were quickly evident in the comments: “The GOAT is here,” said one of them. “Wow, Leo is fully back in training… OMG, this just made my morning even better,” commented another. “The GOAT is back… We love you, Leo,” wrote a third fan.
Previously, Leo was expected to be out for at least two weeks. However, the Argentine star’s progress seems to be entirely positive.
Despite this, although the recent news is encouraging, neither the club, the club’s coach, nor Messi himself have confirmed whether the captain will travel to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 21 to face Heung-Min Son’s LAFC.
The coach is expected to continue evaluating his progress in the coming hours and, based on that, make a statement at a press conference prior to the match. However, his return to the club’s training routine is an important step and a breath of fresh air for his fans.
This will be a very special season, as they will have to defend their titles, but they will also inaugurate their new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, and will no longer have big names such as Jordi Alba or Sergio Busquets. However, they will be able to count on the addition of Mexican striker German Berterame (formerly of Rayados de Monterrey), who has managed to resolve his visa issues.
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