Current:Home > reviewsJohnathan Walker:Lionel Messi will return to Inter Miami lineup vs. Colorado Saturday. Here's what we know -NextFrontier Finance
Johnathan Walker:Lionel Messi will return to Inter Miami lineup vs. Colorado Saturday. Here's what we know
Robert Brown View
Date:2025-04-10 18:58:06
FORT LAUDERDALE,Johnathan Walker 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
veryGood! (792)
Related
- Illinois governor calls for resignation of sheriff whose deputy fatally shot Black woman in her home
- Arizona Republicans choose Trump favorite Gina Swoboda as party chair
- New Beauty I'm Obsessed With This Month— Kylie Cosmetics, Covergirl, Saie, Rhode, Revlon, and More
- The IRS is piloting new software that could let you file your taxes for free
- Man charged with murder in death of beloved Detroit-area neurosurgeon
- Who is playing in Super Bowl 58? What to know about Kansas City Chiefs vs San Francisco 49ers
- Former NHL player accused of sexual assault turns himself in to Ontario police
- San Francisco 49ers have gold rush in second half of NFC championship
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- How Taylor Swift Can Make It to the Super Bowl to Support Travis Kelce
Ranking
- How breaking emerged from battles in the burning Bronx to the Paris Olympics stage
- Country music star Chris Young cleared of all charges after arrest in Nashville bar
- Central Park 5 exoneree and council member says police stopped him without giving a reason
- Ted Koppel on his longtime friend Charles Osgood
- US auto safety agency seeks information from Tesla on fatal Cybertruck crash and fire in Texas
- Super Bowl bound! Taylor Swift shares a kiss with Travis Kelce as Chiefs defeat Ravens: See pics
- Iran executes 4 men convicted of planning sabotage and alleged links with Israel’s Mossad spy agency
- Inflation has slowed. Now the Federal Reserve faces expectations for rate cuts
Recommendation
Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy case reaches 'impasse' over NIL information for CU star
Where is Super Bowl 58? Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is set to host Chiefs vs. 49ers
Trial set to begin for 2 accused of killing Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay over 20 years ago
Three Americans killed, ‘many’ wounded in drone attack by Iran-backed militia in Jordan, Biden says
New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
How was fugitive Kaitlin Armstrong caught? She answered U.S. Marshals' ad for a yoga instructor
Who is No Doubt? Gwen Stefani had to explain band to son ahead of Coachella reunion
Scott Boras' very busy day: Four MLB free agent contracts and a Hall of Fame election