Lionel Messi got started quickly after returning from injury.
The Inter Miami star returned from two weeks out with an adductor strain Saturday, subbing into the game in the 55th minute against the Philadelphia Union. Two minutes later he had his second goal of the MLS season.
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He did not make it look difficult.
The goal proved to be the difference for the Herons as they went on to win 2-1 after Messi’s go-ahead score. Inter Miami had taken the early lead thanks to Robert Taylor’s strike in the 23rd minute. Philadelphia’s Daniel Gazdag found the net in the 80th minute, but that would be it for the Union.
Messi had not played since March 16, having sustained a left adductor strain while missing a shot on goal against the Atlanta United. He sat out two international games for Argentina before returning Saturday. Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said Messi was progressing well entering the game, via USA Today:
“He knows his body very well, and the reality is that he has been training progressively more and more, and has joined in to do some training sessions with the group. And today he will do the entire training session,” Mascherano said of Messi, his former teammate with Barcelona and Argentina.
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At 37 years old, Messi is entering his third MLS season and now has 23 career goals with the club in 28 matches.
Inter Miami moved to the top of the Eastern Conference with the win and will next face LAFC in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
