Messi may return to Barcelona on loan as Inter Miami eliminated from MLS playoffs,

After losing 0-1 to Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati Saturday night, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami have been effectively eliminated from the MLS playoffs.

Though they have two matches left, home and away to Charlotte on 19 and 21 October, Inter Miami will no longer be able to amass enough points to ensure a place on the playoffs.

The club is at present 14th on the league table, a place above Toronto in the 15th.

After the 21 October match, Inter Miami will not play another MLS game until late February next year, making Messi available to be sent on loan to other clubs willing to have him.

Barcelona FC, where Messi spent 17 seasons is being linked to a Messi return.

As Football Espana reported, Inter Miami, the Florida based franchise were rock bottom in the MLS standing and the playoffs looked impossible before the arrival of Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba in the summer.

The club was rising on the table, until the Argentine suffered an injury last month, which had seen him miss several matches over the last few weeks.

Messi made his return to action on Saturday night, but he could not save the club from defeat.

The defeat meant that their two matches against Charlotte FC later this month will be their last ones of the campaign.

Since Messi’s debut, Inter Miami only won one of the six games he missed and only lost one of the 13 he played in.