Lionel Messi, sporting a walking boot on his injured right ankle, watched as Inter Miami secured a 3-1 victory over Toronto FC on Wednesday night, reclaiming first place in the MLS Eastern Conference.
Messi, sidelined due to a ligament injury sustained during Argentina’s Copa America final win against Colombia, was ruled out for the Toronto match and will also miss Saturday’s game against Chicago. Inter Miami announced the injury after a full evaluation and stated that Messi’s condition would be assessed weekly.
Coach Tatar Martino emphasized the importance of a cautious recovery approach, saying, “We are going to see just how his recovery is without taking any kind of risk.”
Messi stayed in Miami to begin his recovery instead of traveling back to Argentina with his teammates. The timeline for his return remains uncertain, with Inter Miami indicating that his availability will be determined by ongoing assessments.
In Wednesday’s match, Federico Redondo scored his first two MLS goals, while Diego Gomez also found the net. Toronto’s Derrick Etienne Jr. scored in the 80th minute. Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez, fresh off a third-place finish with Uruguay in the Copa America, entered the game in the 61st minute. Goalie Drake Callender and striker Robert Taylor marked their 100th appearances for the franchise.
With the victory, Inter Miami now leads the MLS Eastern Conference with 50 points, overtaking FC Cincinnati, which lost 1-0 to the Chicago Fire.
