Lionel Messi returned to the active roster on Sunday after missing back-to-back games, but he was not in the Inter Miami starting lineup against Charlotte FC. The Argentine captain began the game on the bench on a sunny afternoon at Chase Stadium.

Lionel Messi watched from the bench as 10-man Inter Miami held on for a 1-0 win over Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer on Sunday.It marked the third straight game that Messi failed to feature for Miami after he did not travel to Houston for last week's 4-1 win in MLS and then watched the 2-0 victory over Jamaica's Cavalier in the CONCACAF Champions Cup first-leg game on Thursday.

Lionel Messi's potential return from a muscle overload is the main talking point ahead of Inter Miami's match against Charlotte FC. Manager Javier Mascherano expressed cautious optimism about Messi's availability,

Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami’s final training session ahead of their match against Charlotte FC, with head coach Javier Mascherano addressing the likelihood of the star player suiting up. Inter Miami fans are eagerly awaiting Lionel Messi’s return to the pitch after the Argentine missed the first leg of the Champions Cup Round of 16 clash against Cavalier SC.

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi returned to the club's training sessions Saturday, a potentially positive sign for the team ahead of its clash against Charlotte FC Sunday. The Herons manager Javier Mascherano is hopeful of a return of his star player but insisted he will be cautious in determining if the 37-year-old can play.