Lionel Messi Injury Update: Inter Miami Star Nearing Return, Could Be Available for Saturday Matchup vs. FC Cincinnati

After missing almost a month with a leg injury, Inter Miami star Lionel Messi could make his return to the field for Saturday's home MLS matchup with first-place FC Cincinnati, per the Miami Herald.

Messi has been listed as "day-to-day" since aggravating a scar tissue injury on Sept. 7 while playing for Argentina against Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires. He has missed five of Miami's last six matches due to the injury, with the one being a 37 minute appearance against Toronto on Sept. 27 when he was unable to return for the second half.

Head coach Tata Martino indicated this week that Messi is "getting closer" to making his return.

"We'll evaluate him Friday to see if he's in condition to play Saturday," Martino said following the team's 4-1 road loss to Chicago Fire on Wednesday. "The most important this is him putting his injury behind and slowly returning to his best form."

Given that this is flare up of a previous injury, Martino and Inter Miami's medical staff have been clear that Messi will not return until he feels healthy and is at a point where he will not worsen the injury.

Messi, who was named as one of 30 nominees for the league MVP -- despite joining Inter Miami in July -- on Thursday has been training separately from the team, but is showing strong progress and Martino said he planned to resume full workouts with the team this week.

Two days after Martino's comments, Inter Miami assistant coach Javi Morales said that Messi trained at full strength on Thursday, and will train with the team on Friday, per the Miami Herald. He deemed the 36-year-old a "game-day decision."

Another positive sign that Messi's return is on the horizon is Argentina called up their star player for its two upcoming World Cup qualifiers on Oct. 12 against Paraguay and Oct. 17 at Peru.

Messi's participation in the Peru game would mean he will miss Inter Miami's penultimate game of the regular season against Charlotte FC on Oct. 18.

Despite the negative implications it could have upon the MLS franchise, Martino and the club understood representing Argentina was a "non-negotiable" when they signed him.

Miami would need to win all three of its remaining regular season matchups and get some additional help from other teams across the league to keep its hopes alive.

With Messi still questionable for Saturday's game, and likely missing the Oct. 18 matchup, Miami has a tough road ahead as it tries to make up five points and move up five places to earn a playoff berth with just three games remaining.