Inter Miami manager Gerardo Martino said Monday that captain Lionel Messi has yet to fully recover from an ankle injury sustained while playing for Argentina in the Copa America final last month.

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi (R) in action during a friendly football match against Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr FC at the Kingdom Arena Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

Martino admitted he still does not know when Messi will return to full fitness, but said the 37-year-old was recovering in a satisfactory manner.

"He's making progress within our expectations," Martino told reporters.

"We still don't know when he will be able to be with the [first team] group. For the time being, he continues to train separately."

Messi has not played since straining ligaments in his right ankle during Argentina's 1-0 victory over Colombia in the Copa America final on July 14.

His most recent match for Inter Miami was a 3-3 home draw with St. Louis in the MLS.

Messi has scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 15 appearances across all competitions for Inter Miami this year.

The Florida outfit lead the MLS Eastern Conference standings with 53 points from 25 games, five points clear of second-placed Cincinnati.

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)