Inter Miami team news: Is Lionel Messi playing against DC United today?

Lionel Messi has returned to the Inter Miami line-up for today’s MLS clash against DC United. Herons boss Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino had previously told reporters that he was hopeful the forward would be fit and he has been able to name all four former-Barcelona stars in the starting XI.

Miami supporters will be delighted to learn that Messi is fit to return to the team as the Herons look to maintain their place at the top of the Eastern Conference. Ahead of the game the club’s official social media accounts confirmed the team news.

What was Lionel Messi’s injury?

Speaking to the media on Friday, Martino said: “[Messi] looked good in training yesterday, hopefully that’ll also be the case today. We’ll make a decision after training, but we’re optimistic about tomorrow’s game.” Ahead of the regular-season match-up at Chase Stadium, Messi was not listed on the official MLS injury report.

The 36-year-old sat out Miami’s MLS draw with Orlando City on Wednesday, after picking up a knee knock in the team’s victory over CF Montréal last weekend. In his post-match press conference after the midweek stalemate in the Florida derby, Martino said the issue appeared to be no more than a “niggle”, but that he was reluctant to take any risks with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s fitness.

“He felt some pain in his movements,” the 61-year-old said. “And, given that we’re on a run of three games in the space of a week, we felt the most sensible thing to do was leave him out of today’s game. The plan is that he’ll play on Saturday, but it’s going to depend on how he progresses.”

Inter Miami vs DC United: date, time, how to watch

Inter Miami host DC United at Chase Stadium today, Saturday 18 May 2024, with kick-off in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, scheduled for 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT. Viewers can watch the game on MLS Season Pass, a subscription service on the streaming platform Apple TV.

How many MLS goals has Messi scored in 2024?

Wednesday’s draw with Orlando ended a run of five straight MLS wins for Miami, who top the Eastern Conference standings by one point, ahead of a Cincinnati team that has played one game fewer than the Floridians.

Messi scored six goals and supplied eight assists during Miami’s five-game winning sequence, taking his tally in the division this season to 10 goals and 11 assists in nine appearances. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star was named MLS’s Player of the Month for April.