Lionel Messi made a triumphant comeback on Saturday night, coming off the bench to score in the 84th minute and inspire Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over defending MLS champions Los Angeles Galaxy.
The 38-year-old Argentine superstar had been sidelined since August 2, when he picked up what coach Javier Mascherano described as a “minor muscle injury” — believed to be a hamstring issue — during a Leagues Cup win over Necaxa.
“It had been something very small,” Mascherano said after the match. “The three training sessions we had were good. The important thing is that the match ended. As the minutes went by, I saw him better. We have to see how he feels tomorrow.”
Messi, who missed Miami’s Cup clash with Pumas UNAM and their MLS defeat to Orlando City, started on the bench before entering in the second half to replace Telasco Segovia.
“We had planned the match to give minutes to Leo. The idea was to give him 45 minutes so that he can find sensations,” Mascherano explained. “I didn’t see him after the game. Tomorrow we’ll see what feelings he had. He’s an extraordinary player. I saw that he was clearly not 100 percent comfortable but as the minutes went by he was loosening up more and more. We will have to see how he ended with the fatigue.”
Jordi Alba put Miami ahead in the 43rd minute, but Joseph Paintsil drew the Galaxy level early in the second half. Messi then struck late before setting up Luis Suárez for Miami’s third goal in the 89th minute, sealing all three points.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner now boasts 19 goals and 10 assists in just 19 MLS appearances this season, while also steering Miami into the Leagues Cup quarter-finals against Tigres on Wednesday.
“He wants to play every single game,” Mascherano added. “You have to understand why Leo is Leo. He always wants to be on the pitch. He’s happy there. Sometimes we try to explain him that we have to go slowly but when he feels good he knows himself like no one. In the end we tried to give him some minutes today to start having good feelings for Wednesday.”
Inter Miami currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference, six points behind leaders Philadelphia but with three matches in hand.
Elsewhere, Son Heung-min secured his first MLS victory in his first league start for LAFC. The South Korean international, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, set up Mathieu Choiniere’s stoppage-time goal to clinch a 2-0 win over New England. Marco Delgado had earlier opened the scoring in the 51st minute.
The win keeps LAFC fifth in the Western Conference, nine points behind table-toppers San Diego, though with two games still to play.
