As Inter Miami enters the MLS’s Last Chance Saloon, Lionel Messi is expected to make his return

On Saturday, Lionel Messi might make his comeback to Major League Soccer action in an effort to help Inter Miami’s waning playoff chances.

Messi returned from Argentina’s recent international service with an injury, and he has only played 37 minutes for his team since September 3.

Miami has struggled without him, going winless in their past three league games and falling to Houston in the US Open Cup final.

Without the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Miami lost 4-1 to Chicago on Wednesday. The next day, though, he was picked to Argentina’s roster for their forthcoming South American World Cup qualifiers.

After he exercised on Thursday and Friday, there was more hope that he may be in the running to play Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati on Saturday.

However, in line with the club’s strategy throughout the injury controversy, assistant coach Javier Morales gave no indication as to whether Messi would start.

“More of the same, please. He has to be assessed daily. He worked out yesterday, he’ll work out today, and then we’ll undoubtedly make a choice. But he is improving every day, he told reporters.

Messi must be there on the pitch if Miami is to succeed in what is now an improbable goal: extending their season into the playoffs.

With three games left, Gerardo Martino’s team is now ninth in the Eastern Conference, five points off of the last playoff slot.

Miami still have at least one game in hand over all but one of their competitors for that slot, but they are no longer in control of their own fate and must wait for other outcomes to go their way.

Cincinnati is now rated first in Major League Soccer (MLS), and they have already secured the Supporters’ Shield, which comes with the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, for having the greatest regular-season record.

After achieving their goal, they rested numerous important players for Wednesday’s match against the New York Red Bulls, going on to lose 2-1 at home.

Coach Pat Noonan will have to determine whether or not to recall his starters for the game in Fort Lauderdale because of the impending international break.

After the Red Bulls game, he remarked, “You have to… do what’s in the best interest of the individual player and their health so that we can go through the stretch with as many healthy bodies as possible.

In the last round of play for the majority of MLS clubs on Saturday, the possibility for a top-four finish and home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs is another crucial element.

Two positions are vacant in the East with three left to be grabbed in the West.

The eighth-placed club in each conference will host a one-game wildcard match against the ninth-placed team under the current season’s structure.

The victors will then advance to the first round, which consists of best-of-three series. The first and, if necessary, third games will be played at the home stadiums of the top four clubs.

The MLS Cup itself, the conference semifinals, and the championship match are all single games.