Lionel Messi returned to Inter Miami training on Wednesday following his farewell appearance for Argentina, with club officials confirming his immediate focus is Saturday’s Major League Soccer match against D.C. United at Nu Stadium. Infobae reported that the forward rejoined the Florida squad alongside Rodrigo De Paul after wrapping up international duty.
Return to Florida Following Monumental Farewell
The transition from international retirement to club duty comes just days after Buenos Aires bid farewell to the captain of La Albiceleste. Following that emotional tribute in his home country, the 39-year-old forward traveled back to Florida to rejoin training sessions led by manager Kily González.
Inter Miami Secures Playoff Spot in Eastern Conference
Inter Miami enters the upcoming fixture occupying third place in the Eastern Conference standings with 46 points from 27 matches. While the club sits 14 points behind table-leaders Nashville, the current positioning secures a comfortable cushion inside the top nine spots required for playoff qualification. ESPN Deportes noted that the Florida side boasts 64 goals scored this season, maintaining a potent offensive output heading into the final stretch.
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Beyond securing a favorable seed for the postseason—where the club aims to defend its 2025 MLS Cup title—Inter Miami remains mathematically alive in the race for the Supporters’ Shield. The team currently ranks sixth in the overall 30-team league standings, trailing Nashville’s 60 points. Securing the league’s top regular-season prize would also advance Messi toward a personal milestone of reaching 50 official career trophies before the end of the calendar year.
Individual Statistics and Milestone Tracking
Messi resumes club competition leading multiple major statistical categories across Major League Soccer. ESPN Deportes documented that the Argentine forward leads the league with 21 goals and 13 assists, while also pacing the division in total shots with 150 attempts on target—outpacing second-place Milan Iloski, who has recorded 105.
His last scoring contribution prior to the international break came against Columbus Crew, marking the 931st official goal of his professional career and his 102nd tally in an Inter Miami shirt. Those domestic figures build upon his historic career totals, which include 35 trophies with Barcelona, along with silverware captured at Paris Saint-Germain, the international level, and in Florida.
Inter Miami Hosts D.C. United at Nu Stadium
Inter Miami hosts D.C. United on Saturday at Nu Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. local time (Eastern Time) / 00:30 UTC. El Cronista confirmed that the regular-season fixture will be broadcast live globally through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, providing subscribers with multi-language commentary and dedicated match coverage.
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