Lionel Messi made a decisive return from a three-match injury absence, coming on at halftime and striking an 84th-minute winner before setting up Luis Suárez five minutes later to seal Inter Miami’s 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale. The goal was the Argentine’s league-leading 19th of the season and his first appearance since suffering a thigh strain on Aug. 2. Jordi Alba had given Miami the lead in the 43rd minute from a Sergio Busquets through ball, but defending MLS champion LA Galaxy levelled through Joseph Paintsil shortly before the hour. With the match tied, Messi weaved past two defenders and beat goalkeeper Novak Micovic from distance, then delivered a back-heel assist for Suárez to end Miami’s five-match winless run in all competitions. The result lifts Inter Miami to 45 points (13-5-6), keeping the club firmly in the Supporters’ Shield chase and fourth in the Eastern Conference with three games in hand on leaders Philadelphia. The Galaxy, now 3-16-7 after a fourth straight league match without a win, remain bottom of the Western Conference despite last season’s MLS Cup triumph.