Messi, in walking boot, watches as Inter Miami widens MLS lead with 2-1 win vs. Chicago

Lionel Messi is out indefinitely with an ankle injury, but fans at Chase Stadium for Inter Miami’s 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire Saturday night got to see him on the field during a pre-game ceremony to celebrate his record 45 titles and Argentina’s Copa America victory.

Messi, wearing a protective boot on his right foot, limped out to midfield and joined team owner Jorge Mas on a circle that read “Lionel Messi 45 Titles” as a highlight video was shown on the scoreboard celebrating Messi’s storied career and Argentina’s run to the 2024 Copa America title.

“Tonight we celebrate something we have never seen before and possibly will never see again,” Mas said. “We celebrate a great milestone of our captain Leo Messi in becoming the footballer who has lifted the most trophies in the history of the sport. And I’m sure he won’t stop at 45.”

But for the time being, Messi’s athletic feats are on hold.

The Argentine legend injured a ligament in his right ankle during the Copa America final last Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. Coach Tata Martino said Messi will be evaluated week by week as he recuperates and the club will not take any risks or rush him back. Based on how he looked Saturday, it is hard to imagine Messi game-ready anytime soon.

The coach said he was not prepared to comment on the availability of Messi for the MLS All-Star Game or the Leagues Cup opening game next Saturday vs. Mexican club Puebla. Later in his news conference, Martino said he hoped to have his full roster back by the end of August.

Fortunately for the club and its fans, Messi’s teammates have figured out how to win without him.

With the win over the Fire, Inter Miami is 6-1 in its past seven games without Messi and widened its lead over FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference standings. Miami has 53 points with 16 wins, four losses and five ties. Cincinnati lost to New York Red Bulls to stay at 48 points.

Miami took an early lead against Chicago when Matias Rojas scored at the six-minute mark after a spectacular Robert Taylor setup from the left side. Miami dominated the rest of the half with five shots on goal to one and eight total shots, but was unable to finish and the score remained 1-0 at intermission.

Asked about Taylor’s strong performance, Martino attributed it to conversations in recent days about his future.

“In my opinion, Robert’s highs and lows have to do with his level of confidence, and also with things away from the field,” Martino said. “He was hearing questions about whether he will be transferred, whether he would have to leave at the end of the year, but in recent days he was able to speak with us about his future, those conversations have been positive for him and he has that certainty, his head is in a good place knowing he is an important player for us and his performance reflected that.”

The Fire briefly tied it up with a 73rd minute goal by Rafaael Czichos, but Miami regained the lead two minutes later. Jordi Alba took advantage of a Fire defensive blunder to put Inter Miami ahead 2-1 after late-game substitute Leo Afonso got the ball in the area with a high ball.

Two other standouts were goalkeeper Drake Callender and rookie defensive midfielder Yannick Bright. Callender made a couple of acrobatic saves, including one in which he first pawed away a shot, and then got his foot on the rebound at close range. Bright won balls time and again, sneaking up on Fire players from behind and pushing the ball into the attack.

“We have gotten used to those kind of performances from Drake, those two or three saves that allow us to win games, but I want to also mention Yannick Bright, who, for me, was the best player of the night,” Martino said.

He went on praise sporting director Chris Henderson and the scouting staff of Fede Higuain, Cristian Ledesma and Niki Budalic for selecting Bright (University of New Hampshire) and Afonso (University of Virginia) in the 2024 MLS Draft.

“Both of those players were on our second team and within two months we had them playing with the first team,” Martino said. “Yannick is a player who stole as many as 12 balls, I don’t know the exact number, but that is something you don’t see very often in this league. And he rarely commits fouls and typically directs the ball with smart decisions. That is a great attribute for a central midfielder and he understands the game well.”

Martino, determined to hold the lead, deployed a five-man back line in the closing minutes. It worked.

Luis Suarez returned to the starting lineup Saturday after playing sparingly against Toronto on Wednesday night in his first game back from Copa America. The rest of the Miami starting XI were: Callender, Tomas Aviles, Alba, Fede Redondo, Sergio Busquets, Rojas, Julian Gressel, Marcelo Weigandt, Robert Taylor and Bright.

Diego Gomez finalizing move to Brighton

Midfielders Benjamin Cremaschi and Diego Gomez missed the game as they are in France preparing for the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26.

Gomez, who is representing Paraguay, confirmed after the win against Toronto Wednesday that his representatives are in talks with English club Brighton about a potential move. He said his intention coming to Inter Miami was to use it as a springboard to Europe.

Martino said “It is more than just interest from Brighton in Diego, and sooner or later this was going to happen. In a year and a half with us he has demonstrated his quality. We’d love to keep him until the end of the year, but we don’t know when he will go. I think that particular Premier League club would be a good place for him.”

“Diego’s a great player, and when you have a great player, he’s going to get offers,” Inter Miami assistant coach Javi Morales said on Friday, when asked if the team would lose Gomez. “We know how capable Diego is and how important he is for us, but right now it’s just rumors. I hope we can keep him a little longer.”

Gomez reportedly will sign with Brighton but may not join the English club until the Inter Miami season ends.

Notes: U.S. national team star Christian Pulisic and Miami Heat player Tyler Herro were among the familiar faces in the Chase Stadium crowd Saturday night...Inter Miami players debuted the club’s third uniform, a retro aqua kit with orange trim that had Miami Vice and Miami Dolphins vibes.