MIAMI — Lionel Messi is back! The Argentine star returned to the Inter Miami starting lineup Saturday night for a home game against the Philadelphia Union, his first game for the club since June 1.

He missed five games in June and July while playing for Argentina in Copa America, and then missed eight more after injuring ligaments in his right ankle during the Copa final on July 14 at Hard Rock Stadium.

Messi returned to training a few weeks ago, sat out practice Wednesday due to a head cold, but was back with the team on Thursday. The only question was whether he would start or come off the bench.

Asked what it will mean for the team to get Messi back, Martino smiled and replied: “To get back the best player in the world to our team, which was already on a good run, so we are all very happy with this situation.”

Midfielder Robert Taylor said he does not anticipate there being much of an adjustment period with Messi’s return to the lineup.

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

Messi had scored 12 goals in 12 games before the long layoff.

Inter Miami, which has clinched a playoff spot, returned to action on Saturday after the two-week FIFA international break and leads the Supporters Shield race with seven games to go in the regular season. Miami has 59 points, seven points ahead of second-place Los Angeles Galaxy (52). Cincinnati is in third place with 51 points, the Columbus Crew is fourth with 49 and Los Angeles FC is fifth with 48.

Philadelphia is in 11th place with 30 points in the Eastern Conference, battling to get above the playoff line.

Inter Miami’s Starting XI included: Drake Callender, David Martinez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Tomas Aviles, Fede Redondo, Marcelo Weigandt, Diego Gomez, Messi, Luis Suarez, Julian Gressel.

Subs: Oscar Ustari, Ian Fray, Franco Negri, Noah Allen, David Ruiz, Yannick Bright, Benja Cremaschi, Robert Taylor, Leo Campana.

Out: CJ dos Santos (hand), Matias Rojas (ankle), Nico Freire (knee), Facundo Farias (knee), Leo Afonso (groin).

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