When will Lionel Messi return from leg injury? Here's what we know after draw vs. Orlando
Inter Miami CF star Lionel Messi will continue training with the club this week as he nurses his legendary left leg with hopes to play in Saturday’s match at home against D.C. United.
Messi did not play in Orlando on Wednesday night, as Inter Miami and Orlando City played to a scoreless draw, sitting out as a precaution after he was collided into during the club’s previous match against CF Montreal last Saturday.
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said Messi did experience pain in his knee during recovery workouts earlier this week, but test results to evaluate the injury were “very well.”
“The fact is that having three games a week and when he was still in pain to maneuver, we understood that it was prudent not to play [Wednesday’s] game,” Martino said after the Orlando draw.
“The idea is that it will play on Saturday, but it will depend on how he continues to recover. [Wednesday] he trained again and he did well, but we are not going to take any kind of risk, so we will evaluate it later both [Thursday] and Friday.”
How to watch Inter Miami vs. D.C. United live stream on Saturday
The match begins at 7:30 p.m. ET at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and streamed via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
WATCH: Messi and Inter Miami host DC United on Apple TV
TICKETS: Experience Messi and Inter Miami in person at home against DC United
SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami team gear from the MLS Store
What is Messi, Inter Miami, Argentina upcoming schedule?
Inter Miami has four matches remaining before Messi departs for Copa America 2024 to captain Argentina, the defending World Cup and Copa America champions.
Along with the D.C. United match Saturday, Inter Miami visits the Vancouver Whitecaps on May 25, will host Atlanta United on May 29 and host St. Louis City SC on June 1.
Messi and Argentina will play in the Copa America opener against Canada on June 20 in Atlanta. Argentina will also play two exhibitions before the tournament on June 9 against Ecuador in Chicago, and on June 14 against Guatemala in Landover, Maryland.
Messi leads the MLS with 12 assists and is second with 10 goals scored despite missing five league games this season.
Inter Miami earned a point from the tie with Orlando, and still lead the MLS Eastern Conference with 28 points. But FC Cincinnati gained some ground in a 1-0 win over Atlanta to reach 27 points in second place.