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Lionel Messi returned to the pitch in sparkling form, as he guided Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over Philadelphia Union on Saturday, September 14. The Argentina skipper, who had not played since July, expressed on social media how much he had missed nights like this.
Inter Miami have been in excellent form this season, and Messi’s addition has only seemingly strengthened their momentum. However, on the night, it was Philadelphia who struck first, scoring within the second minute to silence the home crowd.
The Herons quickly responded, with Messi leading the charge. In the 26th minute, he received a one-touch pass from Luis Suarez, before wriggling past a defender, and calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Just four minutes later, the 37-year-old found the back of the net again, this time showcasing his elite movement in the penalty area. Jordi Alba received the ball on the left flank and delivered a cut-back to Messi, who was perfectly positioned to complete the move and help his side take the lead.
Inter Miami eventually sealed all three points in stoppage time, as Messi returned the favor to Suarez, whose powerful strike beat the goalkeeper.
Messi made his long-awaited return to action after more than two months, having suffered an ankle injury during the Copa America final against Colombia, which Argentina won 1-0. Naturally, he was thrilled to be back doing what he does best and shared his excitement on Instagram about the result.
I miss nights like this. We keep adding together to achieve our goals...” Messi wrote.
Inter Miami currently lead the Eastern Conference in MLS with 62 points, and are 10 points ahead of FC Cincinnati. With only six games remaining, they will aim to maintain their top spot, having already secured a place in the MLS playoffs.
Lionel Messi shares his delight after returning to action for Inter Miami
Messi’s injury was a significant blow for Inter Miami, but they managed to continue their winning run in the MLS despite his absence. His return has certainly added a new level of inevitability to the team, with Messi once again proving to be a key difference maker.
With 14 goals and 11 assists this season, the former Barcelona star, despite missing several games due to injury, is still in the running for the Golden Boot. Following another standout performance, he expressed his delight at being back and discussed the team’s motivation to win the title.
“I was really eager to come back after a long time off the field. Little by little, I started training with the team, felt good, and that’s why we decided I would start. Very happy, very pleased. As we said at the beginning, we know the squad we have, and [winning the Supporters’ Shield] is a goal. We are realistic and take responsibility," Messi said. (via MLS website)
Messi’s Inter Miami will next face Atlanta United on September 18 before traveling to New York to play sixth-placed New York City FC on September 21.
