Lionel Messi’s Return to the Pitch Not Enough to Save Inter Miami from Playoff Elimination
Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine footballer, made his long-awaited return to the pitch on Saturday night for Inter Miami. However, his second-half appearance off the bench couldn’t prevent the club from suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to FC Cincinnati. With this loss, Inter Miami has officially been eliminated from playoff contention with only two matches remaining in the season.
Messi, 36, had been sidelined since September 20 due to what Inter Miami manager Tata Martino described as “fatigue,” according to a team spokesperson. During Messi’s absence, Inter Miami struggled, managing only two draws and two losses in four games. The team clearly missed the presence and influence of their star player.
Messi’s return to the pitch came in the 55th minute of the match, as he replaced defender Tomás Avilés. However, the Argentine seemed rusty and struggled to make a significant impact during his 35 minutes on the field. Despite his lackluster performance, Messi’s return is undoubtedly a positive sign for Inter Miami as they look ahead to future competitions.
Inter Miami’s last match of the season is scheduled for October 21. However, the team’s busy schedule doesn’t end there. The 2024 MLS regular season won’t kick off until late February, but Inter Miami has another important tournament to participate in – the CONCACAF Champions League. This means that the team will have a packed year ahead, with plenty of opportunities for Messi to showcase his skills and lead his team to success.
It’s worth noting that Inter Miami was struggling even before Messi’s arrival. The team was at the bottom of the Eastern Conference when Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba joined the club this summer. However, their presence had a positive impact on the team’s performance. Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup, a tournament featuring all the teams in MLS and Liga MX, and also reached the final of the U.S. Open Cup. Unfortunately, Messi was unable to participate in the final due to his fitness issues, and Inter Miami lost to the Houston Dynamo.
Currently, Inter Miami sits second-bottom of the Eastern Conference. Even if they manage to win their remaining two games, they can only climb as high as 12th place, which is still far from the playoff line at 9th place. The team will need to regroup and strategize for the upcoming season to ensure a better performance and a chance at playoff qualification.
In conclusion, Lionel Messi’s return to the pitch for Inter Miami was highly anticipated but ultimately couldn’t save the team from playoff elimination. Despite his rusty performance, Messi’s presence will undoubtedly be crucial for Inter Miami in future competitions. The team will now focus on their remaining matches and begin preparations for the upcoming MLS season and the CONCACAF Champions League. With Messi leading the way, Inter Miami will hope to bounce back stronger and make a mark in the next season.