After recovering from an ankle injury over the course of two months, Lionel Messi has been cleared to play again. Inter Miami has stated that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will start for the squad on Saturday when they host Philadelphia.

Before the team’s practice on Friday, Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino declared, “Messi is available.”

Martino withheld information on Messi’s starting position, his potential substitution, and the existence of a minute restriction.

The team with the greatest record in Major League Soccer will benefit even more from his return. Despite Messi missing nine straight MLS games and 15 games total this season, the squad is currently top in the league and has secured a postseason berth.

Messi’s last game for Inter Miami was on June 1. Prior to that, he missed time due to an ankle injury and while representing Argentina in the Copa America competition.

On July 14, Messi sustained an injury while representing Argentina in the Copa America final. Due to a break for ongoing World Cup qualifying matches, the team hasn’t played in two weeks since he returned to group training with Inter Miami late last month. This has given him more time for conditioning and recuperation.

In 12 MLS games this season, Messi has tallied 12 goals and 13 assists. He is tied for 13th in goals scored and has the third-most assists in MLS despite missing nearly half of Inter Miami’s games.