Current:Home > StocksLionel Messi is back, training with Inter Miami. When will he return to competition?-LoTradeCoin
Lionel Messi is back, training with Inter Miami. When will he return to competition?
View Date:2024-12-23 21:03:28
World Cup champion Lionel Messi returned to Inter Miami practice Wednesday for the first time since injuring his ankle during the Copa America final last month.
The 37-year-old star completed individual drills before joining his Miami teammates on the field for his first public practice since he sustained a right ankle ligament injury during the July 14 showdown that Argentina won against Colombia.
While Messi had already resumed individual work last week, Wednesday marked his first appearance practicing with his teammates, a significant step in his recovery process.
Latest on Messi ankle injury
Messi has missed the last seven of Miami’s games due to the injury, but has not played with his MLS side since June 1 because of his international duty with Argentina. Despite the absence of its star player, Inter Miami has had a stellar season. The team currently leads the MLS Eastern Conference, six points ahead of second-place Cincinnati, and has already clinched a playoff spot after defeating Cincinnati 2-0 Saturday.
When will Messi return for Miami?
Miami Head Coach Tata Martino said last week that Messi will return before the end of the MLS season, but the exact date of his return was still up in the air. The MLS season lasts through the middle of October.
Inter Miami’s next game is an away matchup against Chicago Fire FC on Saturday, which may still be too soon for Messi’s long-awaited return to the pitch. If that's the case, Messi’s next possible return date would be Miami’s Sept. 14 home game against Philadelphia. Argentina did not select Messi for its upcoming World Cup qualifying matches Sept. 5 and 10, allowing the star player more time to recover.
USA TODAY Sports reporter Safid Deen contributed to this report.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Burger King's 'Million Dollar Whopper' finalists: How to try and vote on your favorite
- Celine Dion makes rare appearance during Steelers vs Cowboys game promo
- Woman arrested after pregnant woman shot, killed outside Pennsylvania Wawa
- The Biden administration isn’t extending a two-year program for migrants from 4 nations
- Special counsel Smith asks court to pause appeal seeking to revive Trump’s classified documents case
- Milton to become a major hurricane Monday as it barrels toward Florida: Updates
- Tia Mowry Shares Update on Her Dating Life After Cory Hardrict Divorce
- 'I have receipts': Breanna Stewart emotional after Liberty get revenge over Aces
- Mike Tyson-Jake Paul: How to watch the fight, time, odds
- 'SNL' skewers vice presidential debate, mocks JD Vance and Tim Walz in cold open
Ranking
- Who is Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida congressman Donald Trump picked to serve as attorney general?
- Don Francisco gushes over Marcello Hernández's 'SNL' spoof of his variety show
- Kieran Culkin ribs Jesse Eisenberg for being 'unfamiliar' with his work before casting him
- Milton to become a major hurricane Monday as it barrels toward Florida: Updates
- Judge recuses himself in Arizona fake elector case after urging response to attacks on Kamala Harris
- Judge rules the FTC can proceed with antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, tosses out few state claims
- Mega Millions tickets will climb to $5, but officials promise bigger prizes and better odds
- Authorities are investigating after a Frontier Airlines plane lands with fire in one engine
Recommendation
-
'We suffered great damage': Fierce California wildfire burns homes, businesses
-
Aw, shucks: An inside look at the great American corn-maze obsession
-
A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Heather Langenkamp Details Favorite Off-Camera Moment With Costar Johnny Depp
-
Girl, 2, drowns during field trip to West Virginia resort: Reports
-
Disney x Lululemon Limited-Edition Collection: Shop Before It Sells Out
-
Texas still No. 1 in US LBM Coaches Poll but rest of college football top 10 gets reshuffling
-
Kieran Culkin ribs Jesse Eisenberg for being 'unfamiliar' with his work before casting him
-
Supreme Court declines Biden’s appeal in Texas emergency abortion case