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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>All-time great recovering from ankle knock</li><li>No risks being taken on his fitness</li><li>Could return after the international break</li></ul>

Why Lionel Messi has MLS rivals ‘a little bit scared’ – with Inter Miami preparing to welcome Argentine superstar back from injury

<p>Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has not taken in a club appearance since mid-June, when he <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/no-lionel-messi-five-games-how-inter-miami-survive-copa-america-without-captain/blt84231bd21a0d395b" target="_blank">left Tata Martino’s camp in Florida</a> and linked up with the Argentina national team for Copa America duty. He <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/one-more-record-breaking-lionel-messi-celebrates-trophy-win-no-45-wife-antonela-three-sons-join-argentina-copa-america-celebrations/blt200b8b09f6457b50" target="_blank">lifted the trophy</a> at the end of that competition, but <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-lionel-messi-ankle-swells-size-golf-ball-argentina-inter-miami-superstar-tears-injury-copa-america-final-colombia/bltfebca9f5b14d26cd" target="_blank">suffered an unfortunate ankle injury in the final</a>.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72px; height: 40px;"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Stream games now</a></div>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Messi has been<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-return-date-hidden-inter-miami-team-mates-bad-ankle-injury-usmnt-star-julian-gressel-admission/bltf107afe0248cdfed" target="_blank"> eased back to fitness</a> since returning to Chase Stadium, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/complete-horsecrap-lionel-messi-injury-saga-branded-embarrassing-inter-miami-called-former-usmnt-star-lack-updates/blt36fdc2b3a3f6d3d0" target="_blank">no risks being taken</a>, and Inter Miami have continued to fare admirably without him. Martino has, however, indicated that his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-inter-miami-tata-martino-injury-return-date-herons-chicago-fire-mls/blt25d44df117076dd0" target="_blank">talismanic No.10 could return to action against the Philadelphia Union</a> on September 14.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Argentina left Messi out of their latest World Cup qualification squad, giving him time to work on his recovery in the United States, and Gressel has told <a href="https://tv.apple.com/gb/sporting-event/mls-wrap-up/umc.cse.58ya1zy0u6f9v7nf3kffc6v96 " target="_blank"><em>MLS Wrap-Up</em></a> of welcoming the all-time great back: “It’s Lionel Messi, I don’t think I really need to say much on what contribution he brings here. We’ve been very good without him, now you add a player like him into this team, and I’m sure other teams are looking at that and are a little bit scared of us. He has a couple of weeks to get back to game fitness, and hopefully he can join us on the field for the next game.”</p>

WHAT GRESSEL SAID

<p>Inter Miami have pulled eight points clear at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference, as they chase down the Supporters’ Shield, and will hope to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-mls-mvp-only-clown-disagree-ex-usmnt-star-taylor-twellman-inter-miami-superstar-rewriting-history/blt39d8b7dfad9797ba" target="_blank">have a fully fit Messi firing on all cylinders when entering the post-season play-offs</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Why Lionel Messi has MLS rivals ‘a little bit scared’ – with Inter Miami preparing to welcome Argentine superstar back from injury | Goal.com

Julian Gressel says the return to action of Lionel Messi after injury should have Inter Miami’s MLS rivals feeling “a little bit scared”.