Lionel Messi made a brief appearance as a substitute in Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday night. With the team facing three matches in a week, Messi started on the bench, as coach Gerardo Martino aimed to manage his workload while he recovers from an injury.
Messi joined the match in the 61st minute, replacing Julian Gressel, much to the excitement of the 67,795 fans in attendance. Just moments earlier, Miami had regained the lead with a deflected shot from Leonardo Campana, following Saba Lobjanidze’s equalizer for Atlanta that canceled out David Ruiz’s initial goal.
Messi was active during his time on the field, having a shot saved that could have extended Miami’s lead. However, a stunning late equalizer from Aleksei Miranchuk, a Russian international, thwarted Miami’s chance for a sixth consecutive victory in Major League Soccer.
“Messi always looks good, and tonight was no exception,” said Miami assistant coach Javier Morales. He praised Messi’s performance over the nearly 30 minutes he played, highlighting his opportunities and overall positive influence on the team.
The team’s lineup saw several changes, including Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba starting on the bench alongside Messi before entering the game later. Morales backed the coaching staff’s decision, stating it was the right strategy given the circumstances, as Miami nearly secured all three points.
Despite the draw, Inter Miami maintains the best record in Major League Soccer and continues its pursuit of the Supporters’ Shield, which would guarantee home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Messi recently returned from a long absence, impressively scoring two goals and assisting on another in a 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Union the previous Saturday. He didn’t play in last year’s match against Atlanta, leaving the crowd disappointed. Since June 1, he has been sidelined due to national team duties and recovering from an ankle injury sustained in the Copa America final on July 14.
In league play, Messi has tallied 14 goals and 14 assists across just 14 matches. Inter Miami is set to face New York City FC next on Saturday.