Lionel Messi return date 'hidden' from Inter Miami team-mates! Herons squad in the dark after ‘bad’ ankle injury as USMNT star Julian Gressel makes 'month or two' admission

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner picked up an unfortunate knock when turning out for Argentina in the Copa America final. He rolled his ankle in that contest, leaving him in tears prior to picking up the 45th trophy of his record-breaking career.

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Messi has been forced into a cheerleader role since returning to the Inter Miami camp, with fitness problems keeping him out of the MLS All-Star Game. There have also been suggestions that he will play no part in the Herons’ defence of their Leagues Cup crown.

Gressel claims to be in the dark when it comes to Messi’s recovery, despite being a club colleague at Chase Stadium, with the USMNT star telling the Player/Manager podcast: “It looked bad, and the way he’s walking doesn’t seem so great, but he’s trying to protect it, that’s why he’s wearing the boot and trying to minimise the movement to heal those ligaments. Honestly, I don’t have a return date, I don’t have much insight, it’s being kept well hidden, even from us as teammates on what’s actually going on. I want to look at it with a half-glass-full kind of mentality, so I hope he’s back soon and not in a month or two and it will be quicker than that.”

Inter Miami have been playing cards close to their chest when it comes to Messi and when he might be seen on the field again. No risks will be taken on his fitness, with the plan being to have him fully fit and firing for the business end of a campaign that may yet deliver a historic MLS Cup triumph.