Will Messi be back for Inter Miami’s MLS return against Cincinnati?

Inter Miami have been making do without Messi for some time. One month after the Argentine’s injury in the Copa América final, the Herons are still evaluating his progress.

For the moment, medical staff have been happy that he is meeting the deadlines set - from wearing a protective boot in the first few weeks to walking normally since the beginning of this week. However it’s been a long, slow process. Next week, MLS returns to Chase Stadium after a month of inactivity due to the team’s participation in the Leagues Cup, but it is unlikely that we will be seeing Messi on the pitch.

Messi is making progress in Fort Lauderdale, but he still has some ground to cover. The injury to the ligament in his right ankle does not have a fixed prognosis. He is being assessed week by week, training session by training session. Although he is now able train out on the pitch alone with a personal trainer, the big question is when he will be able to rejoin Inter Miami’s first team. And his results are expected more than ever.

Inter Miami, out of two competitions, focusing on MLS title

In the space of just over a month, Inter Miami have given up almost all of the competitions they were involved in for lost. From the early elimination in the Concachampions to another premature exit in the Leagues Cup, a tournament in which they wanted to re-validate their crown. Now their hopes are pinned solely on the MLS Cup.

The assessment from within the team is positive, they hope that by the end of the month, Messi will return for the final stretch of the regular season, but with certain conditions. If he is not completely recovered, he will not be forced to play. The idea is to reintroduce him to the team on a long-term basis.

The team is going to need him when the season hits the decisive stage, and that is more important than taking unnecessary risks now.

Messi has missed 11 games for Inter Miami since leaving to join up with Argentina at the Copa América on 1 June, almost eight weeks ago. The team has more or less managed to cope without him, achieving good results in some cases, but also suffered a humiliating 6-1 thumping to Cincinnati - the team they face next.

Now all hopes are pinned on the MLS, the first national title they can win since the club was founded, but there is still a long way to go. Next up are Cincinnati at Chase stadium on Saturday 25 August, with kick-off set for 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT.