Lionel Messi made a triumphant return to the pitch after a two-month absence, scoring twice to lead Inter Miami to a 3-1 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Union in Matchday 31 of the MLS Eastern Conference. Messi, who also assisted a goal from longtime friend and former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez, played a key role in the win for Gerardo Martino’s squad.
Messi’s goals were set up by familiar faces from his Barcelona days. The first came from a precise assist by Suarez, while the second followed a brilliant play by Jordi Alba, who delivered a perfect pass into the box for Messi to finish.
The connection between Messi and Suarez was on full display for the opener, while a vintage combination with Alba helped secure Miami’s second goal, showcasing the chemistry that made them unstoppable at Barcelona.
Lionel Messi’s two goals helped him reach 14 for the MLS season, keeping him firmly in the race for the Golden Boot. As it stands, D.C. United’s Christian Benteke leads the pack with 18 goals in the regular season, but Messi is closing in fast.
Messi scores the equalizer goal.
Messi’s second goal.
Inter Miami’s third goal.
When will Messi return to Argentina’s National Team?
Messi was absent from Lionel Scaloni’s squad for Argentina’s recent World Cup qualifiers against Chile (3-0 win) and Colombia (1-2 loss). However, there is optimism that he could return to international action for Argentina’s remaining 2024 fixtures.
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Argentina’s next opportunity to call up Messi will be during the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in early October, with matches against Venezuela (away) and Bolivia (home) on the schedule.
When was Messi’s last game?
Lionel Messi’s most recent match took place on July 14, 2024, in the Copa America final, where Argentina secured a 1-0 victory over Colombia to claim back-to-back championships. The Inter Miami star was subbed off in the second half due to the injury that sidelined him for more than two months.
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While Messi’s last appearance for Inter Miami was on June 1, 2024, during a thrilling 3-3 draw with St. Louis City FC on Matchday 17 of the MLS season. The Argentine icon found the back of the net in that game, which marked his final club outing before joining Argentina for the Copa America campaign.
