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Inter Miami star out against FC Cincinnati

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World champion Lionel Messi will return before the end of the Major League Soccer season, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said on Friday.

So, when will Messi play again? The answer is still up in the air.

Messi will not be available for Inter Miami's home game against FC Cincinnati on Saturday as his club needs a win to become the first MLS team to clinch a playoff spot this season.

But Messi has made significant progress in his recovery from a right ankle ligament injury this week and has returned to the field for individual training. The next step would be a return to training with teammates, a process that Inter Miami will not rush.

“There is no estimated date yet because we have to see how he feels when he starts training on the field,” Martino told reporters on Friday about Messi.

Martino expressed at the time that Messi would return at some point as the MLS season enters the home stretch before the MLS playoffs.

“The medical work with the fitness coaches is planned. But yes, he will return before the end of the regular season,” Martino said of Messi, the two-time Copa America winner.

How to watch Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati live stream?

Inter Miami returns to action on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET against FC Cincinnati at Chase Stadium. The game is available through the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

How many games has Messi missed this season?

Messi will miss his sixth game since sustaining an ankle injury in the Copa America final in Miami on July 14, and his 12th appearance for the team.th game since leaving Inter Miami to move to Argentina for the tournament.

Overall, he has only played 15 of 33 games in all competitions for Inter Miami this season. Messi also played in five of Argentina's six Copa America games and had to miss one game due to a groin injury.

Latest on Messi's ankle injury

Messi will not leave Inter Miami to travel to Argentina for two World Cup qualifiers on September 5 and 10 to continue his recovery.

“It was predictable that he would not play for Argentina because he is not yet in a position to play, but we are seeing how he continues to develop,” Martino said of Messi.

Inter Miami has nine games left in the regular season, which runs through mid-October. The team leads the MLS Eastern Conference with 53 points – five points ahead of FC Cincinnati and ten points ahead of third-place Columbus Crew.

Inter Miami were knocked out of the Leagues Cup tournament by the Crew on August 13, which they won last season thanks to the arrival of Messi.

Columbus Crew and LAFC will meet on Sunday in the final of the Leagues Cup, a rematch of last season's MLS Cup.

MLS games on Saturday

Most of the 29 MLS teams return to regular season play on Saturday (live streaming with the MLS Season Pass).

  • Minnesota United – Seattle Sounders FC, 6:45 p.m. ET (FOX)
  • Charlotte FC – New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • DC United vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Inter Miami CF vs FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • CF Montreal vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • New York City FC vs Chicago Fire FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Houston Dynamo FC vs. Toronto FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Sporting Kansas City vs. Orlando City SC, 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Nashville SC vs. Austin FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 9:30 p.m. ET
  • LA Galaxy vs. Atlanta United, 10:30 p.m. ET
  • Portland Timbers vs. St. Louis City SC, 10:30 p.m. ET

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