FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Lionel Messi marked his return to the pitch Saturday night at Chase Stadium with two goals and one assist while playing the full 90 minutes to inspire Inter Miami's 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union.
The Argentina forward spent two months on the sideline after suffering a right ankle injury during the Copa America final July 14. He last featured for Inter Miami on June 1 in an MLS match against St. Louis City before returning to the starting lineup Saturday night.
"A little tired, the humidity and heat of Miami doesn't help much but I really wanted to get back, it was a lot of time off the field," Messi said in a statement released by the team.