Every week, Lionel Messi garners more attention than any other player in Major League Soccer.
The Argentine star is largely considered the greatest player of all time, and therefore his every move is watched closely by fans and media alike.
Messi has rewritten the football record books throughout his illustrious career, but he has also occasionally struggled with muscle injuries and other fitness concerns. As he will turn 38 years old in the middle of the 2025 season, there are more eyeballs than ever on his weekly game status.
The Sporting News takes a look at whether Messi is available for selection, and what the likelihood of him seeing the field is on a game-to-game basis.
LIVE BLOG: Minute-by-minute updates & highlights as Inter Miami host NYCFC
Is Lionel Messi playing today? Next Inter Miami match vs. NYCFC
- Next match: Inter Miami vs. NYCFC — Sat, Feb. 22 @ 7:30 p.m. ET
- Lionel Messi status: In the starting lineup
Despite Inter Miami rotating heavily, Lionel will take the pitch in Inter Miami’s MLS opener against NYCFC at home on Saturday, February 22.
With the Herons also competing in the early stages of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Inter Miami regularly have two matches a week to start the year. Head coach Javier Mascherano indicated some players would be rotated out to keep them fresh for the second leg against Real Salt Lake next week, but did not give a hint as to who.
It wouldn’t have been wild for Mascherano to leave Messi on the bench to start and bring him on for the second half, but he does include Messi in the XI, along with Luis Suarez.
MORE: Lionel Messi’s next match for Inter Miami
Inter Miami matches 2024/25: Schedule and results
The Sporting News will be updating the table below with the latest results from Inter Miami’s 2024/25 season as the matches happen.
| Date | Competition | Stage | Opponent | Home /Away /Neutral |
Result/Time (ET) |
Messi Goal(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Feb. 19 | CONCACAF Champions Cup | Round One | Sporting KC | A | W 1-0 | 1 |
| Sat, Feb. 22 | MLS | Regular season | NYCFC | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Tue, Feb. 25 | CONCACAF Champions Cup | Round One | Sporting KC | H | 8 p.m. | |
| Sun, Mar. 2 | MLS | Regular season | Houston Dynamo | A | 7 p.m. | |
| Sun, Mar. 9 | MLS | Regular season | Charlotte FC | H | 4 p.m. | |
| Sun, Mar. 16 | MLS | Regular season | Atlanta United | A | 7 p.m. | |
| Sat, Mar. 29 | MLS | Regular season | Philadelphia Union | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sun, Apr. 6 | MLS | Regular season | Toronto FC | H | 7 p.m. | |
| Sun, Apr. 13 | MLS | Regular season | Charlotte FC | A | 4:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Apr. 19 | MLS | Regular season | Columbus Crew | A | 4:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Apr. 26 | MLS | Regular season | FC Dallas | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, May 3 | MLS | Regular season | NY Red Bulls | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, May 10 | MLS | Regular season | Minnesota United | A | 4:30 p.m. | |
| Wed, May 14 | MLS | Regular season | San Jose Earthquakes | A | 10:30 p.m. | |
| Sun, May 18 | MLS | Regular season | Orlando City | H | 7 p.m. | |
| Sat, May 24 | MLS | Regular season | Philadelphia Union | A | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Wed, May 28 | MLS | Regular season | CF Montreal | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, May 31 | MLS | Regular season | Columbus Crew | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Jun. 14 | FIFA Club World Cup | Group stage | Al Ahly | N | 8 p.m. | |
| Thu, Jun. 19 | FIFA Club World Cup | Group stage | Porto | N | 3 p.m. | |
| Mon, Jun. 23 | FIFA Club World Cup | Group stage | Palmeiras | N | 9 p.m. | |
| Sat, Jun. 28* | MLS | Regular season | Atlanta United | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Jul. 5* | MLS | Regular season | CF Montreal | A | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Wed, Jul. 9* | MLS | Regular season | New England Revolution | A | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Jul. 12* | MLS | Regular season | Nashville SC | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Wed, Jul. 16 | MLS | Regular season | FC Cincinnati | A | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Jul. 19 | MLS | Regular season | NY Red Bulls | A | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Jul. 26 | MLS | Regular season | FC Cincinnati | H | 7 p.m. | |
| Wed, Jul. 30 | Leagues Cup | Group stage | Atlas | H | TBD | |
| Sat, Aug. 2 | Leagues Cup | Group stage | Necaxa | H | TBD | |
| Wed, Aug. 6 | Leagues Cup | Group stage | Pumas UNAM | H | TBD | |
| Sun, Aug. 10** | MLS | Regular season | Orlando City | A | 8 p.m. | |
| Sat, Aug. 16** | MLS | Regular season | LA Galaxy | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Aug. 23** | MLS | Regular season | D.C. United | A | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Aug. 30** | MLS | Regular season | Chicago Fire | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Sep. 13 | MLS | Regular season | Charlotte FC | A | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Tue, Sep. 16 | MLS | Regular season | Seattle Sounders | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Sep. 20 | MLS | Regular season | D.C. United | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Wed, Sep. 24 | MLS | Regular season | NYCFC | A | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Sep. 27 | MLS | Regular season | Toronto FC | A | 4:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Oct. 4 | MLS | Regular season | New England Revolution | H | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sat, Oct. 18 | MLS | Regular season | Nashville SC | A | 6 p.m. |
* At risk of being postponed should Inter Miami progress to the Club World Cup knockout phase.
** At risk of being postponed should Inter Miami progress to the Leagues Cup knockout phase.
