Lionel Messi will return to Inter Miami lineup vs. Colorado Saturday. Here's what we know
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — When will Lionel Messi play again? The wait is over, Messi fans.
With a social media post on Friday afternoon, Inter Miami confirmed Messi will return to action in Saturday's home game against Colorado.
"He's back," Inter Miami posted with a photo of Messi on their social media accounts.
Messi has been day to day with a right hamstring injury, which has kept him out of action since March 13. He has missed four straight games, and five overall during the MLS season.
Friday's announcement is unique for Inter Miami, promoting Messi will play in a match a day before, when he’s been recovering from injury. The club has typically steered clear from such announcements, outside of coaches’ comments updating his injury status or ruling him unavailable to play since Messi joined Inter Miami last summer. Usually, Messi's availability has been left unannounced until starting lineups are released about an hour before games.
It's unclear how much Messi will play against Colorado, but the match is an ideal opportunity for Messi to gauge his comeback attempt, especially with the stakes rising for Wednesday’s second leg in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal on the road against LIGA MX powerhouse Monterrey. Inter Miami trails Monterrey 2-1 in aggregate score.
“He’s getting better every day … We’re going day by day. We’re going to see how he feels today, and we’re going to make a decision,” Inter Miami coach Javier Morales told reporters before Friday's practice, in which Messi participated.
“We’re going to do the best for him, that’s the most important thing.”
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Colorado live stream?
Inter Miami and Colorado kick off at 7:30 p.m. inside chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The match can be live streamed via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
WATCH: Messi and Inter Miami host Colorado on Apple TV
TICKETS: Experience Inter Miami in person at home vs. the Colorado Rapids
SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami gear from the MLS Store
Monterrey reports Inter Miami dustup to Concacaf
Messi's return could also be sparked by the fallout from Inter Miami's 2-1 loss to Monterrey in the first leg of their quarterfinal matchup.
Messi and other members of Inter Miami caused a stir by confronting Monterrey coach Fernando Ortiz for his pregame comments, regarding favoritism for Messi and Inter Miami. Inter Miami has not commented on the matter, while Monterrey reported the confrontation to Concacaf after the game.
Inter Miami had six yellow cards during the match, including two to David Ruiz, who was ejected in the 66th minute, forcing Miami to finish the match with 10 players on the field. Monterrey – which finished with just three yellow cards – scored twice after Ruiz’s ejection.
“The truth is that the most important thing happened on the field, which is a Cup match. We know what those games represent, they are played with intensity, they are lived with a lot of pulsations, but the truth is that the most important thing happened inside the field,” Morales said.
“We play against a great rival. Unfortunately, when we were left with 10 players we could not maintain the result. But now, we have to go to Monterrey and try to do it in the best way to be able to move forward.”
Luis Suárez earns MLS player of the month for February and March
With five goals and three assists in eight MLS games, Luis Suárez on Friday has been named the MLS player of the month for February and March to start the season.
Suárez becomes the first player in Inter Miami history to be named MLS Player of the Month.
Will Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets play against Colorado?
Along with Messi being in doubt, Inter Miami’s other former Barcelona stars could see limited action in Saturday’s match to prepare for the next Monterrey game.
“When you play Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, and especially with players like them, it is a constant conversation to see how they feel and well, then together make a decision,” Morales said. “But the truth is that they are physically fine, so we'll see.”
What is Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule?
Expect Inter Miami to prioritize their Champions Cup matches, with Messi likely limited for MLS regular season matches in the next two weeks.
∎Saturday: Inter Miami vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎Wednesday: Inter Miami at Monterrey in Champions Cup, 10:30 p.m. ET
∎April 13: Inter Miami at Sporting Kansas City at Aarowhead Stadium, 8:30 p.m. ET
∎April 20: Inter Miami vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎April 27: Inter Miami at New England, 7:30 p.m. ET