Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami have had a solid start to the 2024 campaign but still have work to do if they are to meet the lofty expectations set for them this season.
The Herons are top of the Eastern Conference with 34 points from 17 games, although the teams below them have games in hand.
Messi has been a huge part of the club’s early success, scoring key goals in important results. Additionally, with the Argentine missing due to injury for a few games so far, the club floundered in his absence.
With so many injury issues surrounding Messi’s on-field performances, The Sporting News takes a look at whether Messi will play in Inter Miami’s upcoming match.
MORE: See Inter Miami’s full 2024 schedule here
Is Lionel Messi playing today? Next Inter Miami match vs. St. Louis
Messi was involved in Inter Miami’s 3-1 home loss to Atlanta United on May 29, scoring in the defeat to Gonzalo Pineda’s side.
Tata Martino has had to manage his star forward’s work load carefully this season, but Messi was named in the lineup again for the clash with St. Louis on June 1.
MORE: Are Inter Miami paying for taxing preseason with heavy injury list?
Inter Miami full MLS fixture list for 2024 season
Inter Miami kicked off the 2024 MLS season against Real Salt Lake on February 21, 2024. Their regular-season campaign will conclude on Decision Day on October 19, when they face New England Revolution.
DateOpponentLocationResultWeds, Feb. 21Real Salt LakeChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)W 2-0Sun, Feb. 25LA GalaxyDignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA)D 1-1Sat, March 2Orlando CityChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)W 5-0Fri, March 8Nashville SCGeodis Park (Nashville, TN)D 2-2Sun, March 10MontrealChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)L 3-2*Sat, March 16D.C. UnitedAudi Field (Washington, DC)W 3-1*Sat, March 23NY Red BullsRed Bull Arena (Harrison, NJ)L 4-0*Sat, March 30NYCFCChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)D 1-1*Sat, April 6Colorado RapidsChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)D 2-2Sat, April 13Sporting KCChildren’s Mercy Park (Kansas City, KS)W 3-2Sat, April 20Nashville SCChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)W 3-1Sat, April 27New England RevolutionGillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)W 4-1Sat, May 4NY Red BullsChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)W 6-2Sat, May 11MontrealStade Saputo (Montreal, Canada)W 3-2Wed, May 15Orlando CityExploria Stadium (Orlando, FL)D 0-0Sat, May 18D.C. UnitedChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)W 1-0Sat, May 25Vancouver WhitecapsBC Place (Vancouver, Canada)W 2-1Wed, May 29Atlanta UnitedChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)L 3-1Sat, June 1St. Louis CityChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Sat, June 15Philadelphia UnionSubaru Park (Chester, PA) Wed, June 19Columbus CrewChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Sat, June 29Nashville SCGEODIS Park (Nashville, TN) Wed, July 3Charlotte FCBank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC) Sat, July 6FC CincinnatiTQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH) Wed, July 17TorontoChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Sat, July 20Chicago FireChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Sat, Aug. 24FC CincinnatiChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Sat, Aug. 31Chicago FireSoldier Field (Chicago, IL) Sat, Sep. 14Philadelphia UnionChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Wed, Sep. 18Atlanta UnitedMercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) Sat, Sep. 21NYCFCYankee Stadium (New York City, NY) Sat, Sep. 28Charlotte FCChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Wed, Oct. 2Columbus CrewLower.com Field (Columbus, OH) Sat, Oct. 5TorontoBMO Field (Toronto, Canada) Sat, Oct. 19New England RevolutionChase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
* Lionel Messi did not participate
Inter Miami schedule for Leagues Cup
The 2024 Leagues Cup is scheduled to begin on July 26, running for a month while the MLS season pauses play.
The final will take place on August 25, after which MLS league play will resume. Inter Miami were drawn against two Mexican clubs in Tigres UNAL and Puebla for the group stage. The top two teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage, while the bottom side is eliminated.
RoundDateOpponentScoreGroup StageSat, Jul. 27Puebla Group StageSat, Aug. 3Tigres Round of 32Aug. 7-9TBD (if qualified) Round of 16Aug. 12-13TBD (if qualified) QuarterfinalsAug. 16-17TBD (if qualified) SemifinalsAug. 20-21TBD (if qualified) FinalSun, Aug. 25TBD (if qualified)
Inter Miami schedule for CONCACAF Champions Cup
The 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, North and Central America’s continental club competition, began on February 6, but Inter Miami secured a bye through to the Round of 16 via their qualification as Leagues Cup champions.
Thus, Inter Miami’s first CCC matchup came against fellow MLS side Nashville SC, who they advanced past via a 5-3 aggregate score, drawing Liga MX giants Monterrey in the quarterfinals. They were beaten 5-2 on aggregate.
How did Inter Miami play in preseason?
Inter Miami preseason fixtures and results
Inter Miami’s preseason began with matches against the El Salvador national team and FC Dallas before embarking on a tour of Asia in February.
They began with a game against the top players from the Hong Kong First Division at Hong Kong Stadium, where approximately 40,000 fans attended. Despite the absence of Messi and Suarez due to injury, Martino apologised to disappointed fans, emphasising the medical risks involved.
The tour continued on to Tokyo, where Inter faced J1 League champions Vissel Kobe at the Japan National Stadium, featuring a special guest appearance by Andres Iniesta.
Following the Asia trip, Inter Miami returned home to host Newell’s Old Boys, Messi’s boyhood club, in a friendly at Chase Stadium in Miami. That concluded the club’s preseason tour, readying them for the 2024 regular season.
DateMatchLocationFri, Nov. 10, 2024Inter Miami 1-2 New York City FCDRV PNK Stadium
(Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA)Fri, Jan. 19, 2024Inter Miami 0-0 El SalvadorEstadio Cuscatlan
(San Salvador, El Salvador)Mon, Jan. 22, 2024Inter Miami 0-1 FC DallasCotton Bowl
(Dallas, TX)Mon, Jan. 29, 2024Al Hilal 4-3 Inter MiamiKingdom Arena
(Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)Thu, Feb. 1, 2024Al Nassr 6-0 Inter MiamiKingdom Arena
(Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)Sun, Feb. 4, 2024Hong Kong All Stars 1-4 Inter MiamiHong Kong Stadium
(Causeway Bay, Hong Kong)Wed, Feb. 7, 2024Vissel Kobe 0-0 Inter MiamiJapan National Stadium
(Tokyo, Japan)Thu, Feb. 15, 2024Inter Miami 1-1 Newell’s Old BoysDRV PNK Stadium
(Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA)
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