Lionel Messi is healthy and will be available for selection Saturday's road game against Atlanta United FC, Inter Miami CF coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino said on Friday.
A win on Saturday could propel Miami -- with some help elsewhere -- from 14th to 11th in the Eastern Conference, leaving them only three points off the playoffs.
Miami has already beaten Atlanta twice this season, defeating them 2-1 in May prior to Messi's arrival, and then 4-0 in the Leagues Cup back in July, which was Messi's first start in which he contributed two goals and an assist. Saturday will be the first trip back to the 404 for Martino, who coached the team for three seasons, leading them to an MLS Cup title in 2018. He departed after that win to take the head coaching job with theAs many as 70,000 fans could pack into Mercedes-Benz Stadium to catch a glimpse of Messi on Saturday. The cheapest nosebleed tickets are going for $130 on secondary ticket sites, even with the potential of Messi not starting the game.
Atlanta currently sits in sixth place in the Eastern Conference but have only won two of their last eight games in all competitions, however, and have allowed 43 goals this season, the second-most in the league behind Portland., the 22-year-old Argentine midfielder who has been compared to Messi due to his height and technical ability. He currently leads the league with 11 assists, and he and Messi exchanged jerseys after their Leagues Cup meeting in July.
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