ไทย
English
中國人
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami face a crucial showdown on Saturday, traveling to take on Supporters' Shield leaders Nashville SC, with an opportunity to seize first place in both the MLS and Eastern Conference standings with a win.
While this is Miami's most important match of the season so far and comes amid a growing rivalry between two clubs that have faced each other 21 times since the 2020 MLS season, there are no guarantees that Messi will be in the starting eleven.
The 38-year-old has endured a difficult week, following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, and making an unplanned trip back to Argentina for the funeral. He sat out Miami's Leagues Cup fixture against CF Monterrey last Saturday and did not start when he made a surprise return to the squad on Wednesday against Club León.
Though he wasn't in the starting eleven against León, he came on at halftime to a thunderous reception from the crowd and delivered an energetic performance, registering five shots, despite his team's 3–2 defeat, which ended their tournament run.
Will Lionel Messi Start vs. Nashville SC?
Ahead of Saturday's clash with Nashville, it remains uncertain whether Messi will return to the starting lineup or serve as a substitute option for the team's first league outing following the brief Leagues Cup break.
In the 12 appearances Messi has made against Nashville, he has been outstanding, netting 16 goals and contributing four assists, even though he was unable to guide his side past them over two legs in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals earlier this campaign.
Nashville, however, boasts one of the league's most potent attacks with 35 goals scored and has conceded the fewest goals in MLS with just 14, while also suffering only one defeat in their last 12 matches.
"This is a very significant match between two teams competing for the same goals," Inter Miami interim manager Guillermo Hoyos said Friday. "I believe it will be an exciting game, like all the matches we've played against them in various venues. We're expecting a positive outcome."
Messi's Trophy Chase
Enable functional cookies to see this feature.
Time is running out for Messi to extend his remarkable streak of winning silverware every season, and a Miami defeat to Nashville could effectively end a third trophy pursuit in 2026.
If the Herons fail to secure the Supporters' Shield as the regular season's top side, only the Super Cup-style Campeones Cup against Liga MX's Cruz Azul and a defense of the MLS Cup title remain within reach this season.
In 21 of Messi's 22 previous professional seasons, his club has lifted at least one trophy. In 14 of those 21 campaigns, the team has claimed two or more. Miami has already fallen short in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup this year, but the Supporters' Shield represents a clear opportunity to further extend Messi's record-breaking collection of honors.