Lionel Messi is back for the MLS regular season. The superstar returned to Inter Miami’s lineup on Saturday, coming off the bench in Miami’s matchup against Columbus Crew.
Messi entered the game in the 53rd minute for Miami’s first substitution of the match, replacing Dániel Pintér. Messi retook the captain’s armband from Luis Suárez as he entered the game.
It marked Messi’s first game since competing in the World Cup, where Argentina fell to Spain in the tournament’s final two weeks ago. Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s teammate for both club and country, also rejoined Miami’s squad on Saturday as a starter.
Miami led Columbus 2-1 at halftime, after a weather delay postponed kickoff. An own goal from Casemiro drew the Crew equal with Miami, but young defender Noah Allen put Miami back ahead in first-half stoppage time.
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Messi’s exact timeline for a return to Miami post-tournament wasn’t entirely clear: Messi and De Paul missed Miami’s two games — against the Chicago Fire and CF Montréal — in the week after the Final. (Inter Miami won both games without the Argentine pair) Messi and De Paul also opted to skip the MLS All-Star game despite both players being named to the squad.
When speaking to reporters on Friday, Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos didn’t commit to either Messi or De Paul returning to the lineup for Saturday’s game.
“We’ve been talking, in that regard. He only just got back. We haven’t really had the chance to have a proper conversation yet,” Hoyos said, via ESPN. “We’re genuinely happy that they’ve returned and are back at the club. It’s great to see them here.”
However, Messi posted information about the game beforehand on his Instagram story, indicating that he was more likely to play.
After Messi fell short of both the World Cup trophy and the Golden Boot, it raised questions of what’s next for the 39-year-old superstar. But for now, that means a return to MLS action: After Saturday’s game, Miami will face San Luis and Monterrey in the Leagues Cup group stage this week.
Inter Miami is second in MLS’s Eastern Conference standings, neck-and-neck with Nashville SC for the top spot.
This story will be updated.
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