Lionel Messi’s Return Fails to Secure Victory for Inter Miami Against Atlanta United

Lionel Messi came off the bench during a match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday night, but was unable to make a significant impact in Inter Miami‘s draw against Atlanta United. Entering the match in the 61st minute, Messi missed a crucial shot on target that could have sealed the victory. His attempt was blocked by Atlanta’s goalie Brad Guzan, who also denied Luis Suarez’s follow-up attempt.

The missed opportunities led to a tense conclusion, with Atlanta United’s Aleksei Miranchuk scoring an impressive goal in the 84th minute to secure the draw. Saba Lobzhanidze had earlier scored for Atlanta in the 56th minute. Inter Miami’s goals came from David Ruiz, who scored in the 29th minute, and Leo Campana, who set a club record with his 30th goal in the 58th minute, surpassing Gonzalo Higuain.

Despite the draw, Inter Miami remains at the top of the Eastern Conference with 63 points. The team played without coach Tata Martino and players Sergio Busquets and Tomas Aviles, all absent due to yellow card accumulation. Lionel Messi, now at 27 goals for Inter Miami, looked fit and made dynamic attempts towards the net, seeking to connect with teammates.

Messi’s participation in the match was cautious as it was his second appearance after recovering from a right ankle ligament injury sustained during the Copa America final on July 14. He had previously played 25 minutes in Montreal on May 11. Fans in Atlanta witnessed Messi for the second time this year, following his Copa America campaign with Argentina.

Messi had played the entire match last Saturday, in which Inter Miami secured a 3-1 win over Philadelphia with Messi scoring twice and providing an assist. His limited playtime on Wednesday was part of a strategy to have him available for their upcoming match against New York City FC.

Throughout the MLS season, Messi’s influence has been noteworthy, contributing 14 goals and 10 assists in just 14 matches for Inter Miami. “Leo always looks good, today was no exception,” Assistant Coach Javi Morales remarked about Messi’s performance. “He was active, participated, and even had a chance to score.”

As Inter Miami continues to lead the standings, they face competition from L.A. Galaxy, with 59 and 55 points respectively, in the race for the Supporters' Shield. With much of the season left, Messi and Inter Miami aim to maintain their lead and potentially secure another title.