The talisman of South Beach picked up where he left off, and is now in position to add to his 45 career trophies

Lionel Messi had not played in a competitive soccer match since the Copa America final on July 14, and the last time he featured for Inter Miami in MLS action was June 1. So what happened Saturday night? He casually returned to their starting lineup … and promptly scored a four-minute brace and set up a late Luis Suarez goal in a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union.

It was as if he had never left.

The Herons now boast a seven-point lead over second place LA Galaxy in the Supporters' Shield standings after the Argentine's heroics. Add in the fact they have a game in-hand, too, and the regular season title is now theirs to lose.

Miami played nine matches without their No. 10 this summer, staying afloat and competing at a high level across MLS. Now, with him back in the mix, the expectations are sky-high for Tata Martino's side. An MLS Supporters' Shield, the top overall seed in the 2024 MLS playoffs, a run towards MLS Cup – it's all in play, so they cannot afford to falter. And neither can Messi.

GOAL explores how the Herons' 2024 campaign built to this moment, what weight rests on the Argentine's shoulders and how Martino's squad can climb higher than ever before.

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Messi's departure after the June 1 match against St. Louis CITY SC began what would become a more than three-month-long absence from the pitch for Miami. He originally left the club to lead his native Argentina in Copa America, where claimed a brilliant victory over Colombia in the championship game. However, Messi departed the final with a severe ankle sprain, an injury that had sidelined him until this past weekend.

He missed the 2024 MLS All-Star game, the 2024 Leagues Cup and nine regular season matches during that span. And almost inexplicably, Miami didn't falter. Rather, they excelled.

They won eight of those nine matches, with their lone loss being a shocking 6-1 defeat to Eastern Conference rivals FC Cincinnati. The game felt like an anomaly, and in the grand scheme of things, is a blur in their campaign.

In the second-ever edition of the Leagues Cup, the reigning champions Miami looked to run it back without Messi, but they fell short. His absence was well-noted, as they were outclassed in the knockout stage by eventual champions Columbus Crew.

However, none of that matters now.

Messi is back, and he returned with a bang. Now, with six matches left on the calendar, the Herons have a chance to put their names in MLS history, and the Argentine himself can add to his impeccable track record of silverware, with 45 trophies already in the cabinet.

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Messi simply picked up where he left off. Across 13 matches now this season, he's scored 14 goals and notched 14 assists, averaging 2.15 goal-contributions per game. That number is higher than any other player across the entire league this season. In the process, he became the fastest MLS player to reach 15 goals and 15 assists. Messi set the record within 19 games, breaking the mark set by Sebastian Giovinco, who managed to reach the same mark in 29 fixtures.

However, there still needs to be acknowledgement that he has yet to return to his best.

Saturday was his first match in nearly two months, and his first for the Herons in more than three months. He's yet to reach his peak for the club, and knowing that might be what makes his return Saturday all the more terrifying.

“To be honest, I am a little tired, the humidity and heat of Miami doesn’t help,” Messi said in a post-match interview. “But, I was very eager to come back, it had been a long time away from the field. Little by little I started training with the group, I felt good, and that is why we made the decision for me to start. I am very happy, very pleased.”

Ahead of the match, Martino shared how excited he was to have the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner back in his squad, saying "we are going to once again have the best player in the world within the team, so we are all happy about that situation."

Martino was asked why he played both Suarez and Messi for 90 minutes against Philadelphia, especially with the Argentine coming off his lengthy spell on the sideline, and the answer was predictable: when you have the best, you play the best.

“Look who was involved in the third goal," he said. "It is very difficult to take out game-changers like them because they show up and deliver at any moment.”

Securing silverware, pursuit of excellence

And did they ever deliver. Of course, that's not news for anyone who watches MLS; Messi has been doing that every time he's stepped on the pitch this season.

Despite playing in less than half of Miami's matches this campaign, the Argentine boasts a combined G+A of 28 this season, tied with Real Salt Lake standout Chicho Arango. Only Portland Timbers phenom Evander and reigning MLS MVP Lucho Acosta have a higher figure, both tied with a G+A of 29. All three of them meanwhile, have played at least nine more regular season matches than Messi.

His influence on the Herons roster, his performances, simply cannot go unnoticed. And this Miami roster, composed of stars such as Messi, Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, makes it a superteam built to win championships. They have the chance to not only claim the MLS Supporters' Shield, but blow out the competition competing for it.

And the regular season is but a stepping stone in the grand scheme of Miami's plan.

"As we said at the beginning, we know the squad we have, and [winning the Supporters' Shield] is a goal. We are realistic and take responsibility," Messi said Saturday. "The truth is that throughout the year, we had a lot of bad luck with injuries. We were never at full strength – due to one thing or another, we were always missing players, but the team always pushed forward. Today, we are in first place with a big lead, and deservedly so.

"Hopefully, we can finish at the top for what it means and for what's to come after as well."

Getty ImagesLocking in

At the top, they are. Now can they stay there? Not much stands in Miami's way, in terms of the regular season at least.

Miami have a rematch against the Crew on Oct. 2, a game that may serve as a preview for the Eastern Conference final come the playoffs. And it's the only real threatening team remaining on their schedule.

With six matches left and a playoff spot already clinched, it's time for the Herons to lock in and show why they should be considered as MLS' best. Messi's return only strenghens their case, and his teammates realize it, too.

“Of course, two months is a long time, for anyone, but he’s the best player there is,” winger Robert Taylor said Saturday. “So, I don’t think we’ll see much of a different Messi than we’ve seen before.”