Lionel Messi not in starting lineup for Inter Miami's match at Atlanta
Messi was scheduled to start the game on the bench, as the Herons were playing their second of three games in a week.
Coach Gerardo Martino had stated that he did not want to overwork his top player, who is returning from an injury as the club is in the midst of a hectic stretch.
Another prominent Miami player, Luis Suárez, was designated as a replacement for the game, which was expected to draw a large audience to Mercedes-Benz Stadium,
mostly to witness Messi.He did not play last year when Inter Miami came to Atlanta, disappointing a crowd of 71,635.
However, he was in the stadium this time, allowing him to make a probable appearance in the second half.
The 37-year-old Messi returned to Miami's roster on Saturday after a long hiatus, scoring two goals and assisting on the third in a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union.
Miami has the best record in Major League Soccer and is looking to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Argentine great and eight-time Ballon d'Or winner had not played for Inter Miami since June 1 due to national team duties and a right ankle injury suffered in a 1-0 Copa America final victory over Colombia on July 14.
"I'm a little tired from the heat and humidity of Miami, but I was so excited to return after such a long absence," Messi remarked in Spanish after the game
"I started training with the group and began to feel better."Messi scored twice in a four-minute span midway through the first half, negating Philadelphia's early goal.
Suárez contributed to one of Messi's goals and sealed the victory with a score off a Messi assist in second-half stoppage time.
Despite only playing 13 league games, Messi has 14 goals and 14 assists entering Wednesday.