Tata Martino Promises Messi Will Be in Top Form for MLS Playoffs

Lionel Messi, after more than two months on the sidelines with that ankle injury, is now showing his magic with Inter Miami. And look, coach Tata Martino is already sending a message: the man is getting back in shape and gearing up for the MLS playoffs like he's about to lift another trophy.

Messi’s return is a breath of fresh air for Inter Miami. They were leading the MLS with 64 points, and now they've got the king of soccer back on the field. But, it’s not an easy road ahead. There are four games left, and the team needs 10 points to break the 73-point record set by the New England Revolution in 2021.

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Messi’s gonna play the full 90 minutes, gaining rhythm and sharpening his skills. Sure, he’s not a young kid anymore, but the Argentine wizard still has that magic in his feet. Inter Miami is now entering a crucial stretch against Charlotte FC and the formidable Columbus Crew. If they manage to get through this, that home-field playoff advantage is pretty much locked in.

Messi's arrival in the U.S. shook up the MLS. The man didn’t come to play around, and even after that nagging injury, you can already see the spark coming back. Martino's confident, and who can blame him? He’s even said, “Leo will keep getting better as he plays the full ninety.”

Now, if you think it’s just Messi carrying this team, you’re wrong. Martino also mentioned the return of other key players, like Paraguayans Diego Gómez and Matías Rojas. With this trio on the field, it looks like Inter Miami has found the balance they needed to march toward the title.

The MLS has always been seen as less competitive compared to the European leagues—no secret there. But Messi's arrival gave the league a new status. Every Inter Miami game has become a spectacle, the media’s all over it, and American fans, who are usually into the NBA and NFL, are now tuning into soccer.

When a guy like Messi comes back from an injury, the expectations are sky-high. Can he carry Inter Miami on his back and lead them to the title? Well, Tata Martino seems to believe he can. And honestly, who’s gonna doubt the man who’s seen Messi shine in the toughest of situations?

But there’s an important detail here that we can't ignore. Inter Miami leads the league and needs 10 points in the next four games to break the regular season record. That’s a lot to ask, and this is where Messi’s name carries weight. With him on the field, the team gains that extra confidence, that touch of brilliance that can make all the difference.

Martino knows they can’t put everything on the number 10’s shoulders. The team has to come together and play as a true unit if they want to secure that home-field advantage in the playoffs.

The tricky part? This stretch of games comes right in the middle of an “international break.” What does that mean? It means Inter Miami will lose some key players who’ll join their national teams. That's a huge obstacle. It’s almost like the universe is testing Inter Miami. Can they power through all of this and make it to the playoffs in full force?

The truth is, everyone’s got their eyes on Messi playing in the MLS. Inter Miami is entering a make-or-break period, and the pressure on Martino and his players is real. But with Messi on the field, anything is possible.