Son-Messi duo leads 'MLS' to victory in 'All-Star' match... Messi returns to training

South Korean star Son Heung-min scored a brace to lead the Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Stars to a 4-3 victory over the Liga MX All-Stars in the MLS All-Star Game held in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Son, who plays for Los Angeles FC, netted his goals in the 20th and 23rd minutes, overturning the scoreline after Colombia’s Luis Gabriel Rey had given the Liga MX side the lead. Danish midfielder Philip Zinckernagel of Chicago Fire added a third goal for the MLS All-Stars in the 42nd minute, ending the first half with a 3-1 lead.

Venezuelan striker Salomón Rondón scored in the 55th minute to keep the Liga MX team in the contest, but FC Cincinnati playmaker Ivan Angulo restored the two-goal margin for MLS in the same minute. Argentine midfielder José Baradán added further drama by scoring for the Liga MX side in stoppage time.

Veteran Argentine star Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul were excused from the match due to fatigue following their national team’s run to the World Cup final, where the 2022 champions lost 1-0 to Spain.

Meanwhile, Messi returned to Inter Miami’s training sessions two days ago, ten days after Argentina’s loss to Spain in the World Cup final. The Argentine star was seen entering the training ground alongside his Inter Miami teammate, Uruguayan Luis Suárez, in a video posted by the club on social media.

Since the 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final held on July 19 in New Jersey, Messi has spent time with his family in his hometown of Rosario. No official date has been announced for Messi’s return to competitive matches.

Inter Miami is set to face Columbus Crew tomorrow, Saturday, in a domestic league match, before beginning their campaign in the Leagues Cup—the joint competition between MLS and Liga MX clubs—on Wednesday against San Luis.