Messi’s Inter-Miami Playoff Hopes

After a 17-day hiatus due to injury, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi returned to the pitch. However, his presence couldn’t prevent Inter Miami from falling to the Eastern Conference leaders, Cincinnati, by a 0-1 margin. This crushing defeat dashed Inter Miami’s hopes of advancing to the MLS playoffs. 😢

Match Highlights and Major Moments 🌟

Early Expectations: The football community buzzed with anticipation as Messi marked his comeback after missing four crucial matches. Joining the action 36 minutes into the second half on Saturday, there were high hopes he would be the catalyst to maintain Inter Miami’s playoff chances. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be. 💭

Cincinnati’s Winning Moment:

It was another Argentine, Albaro Barriel, representing Cincinnati, who became the game-changer, netting the solitary goal in the 78th minute. 🚀

Inter Miami’s Standings:

Following this setback, Inter Miami’s tally remains stagnant at 33 points, relegating them to a penultimate position in the Eastern Conference. With just two rounds left in the preliminary phase, their playoff dreams are now officially over. 😔

Messi’s Injury Saga and Recent Performances 🩹

The legend, Messi, had previously signaled for a substitution during the game against Toronto on September 20th. He subsequently missed the Florida derby against Orlando City on September 24th and the U.S. Open Cup final, where Inter Miami faced a 1-2 defeat to Houston Dynamo. His absence was also felt in the recent clash against Chicago Fire last Wednesday.