FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi is feeling ‘much better’ with a possibility he could play for Inter Miami in Sunday’s home game against Charlotte FC, coach Javier Mascherano said Saturday.
Messi has continued to practice despite fatigue from a jam-packed start to the 2025 season for the Argentine World Cup and the defending MLS Supporters’ Shield champions.
Sunday’s match would be Messi’s first game since Feb. 25, if he plays. Messi has missed Inter Miami’s past two games, not because he’s injured, but to rest.
‘Leo is much better,’ Mascherano said before Messi participated in Saturday’s practice. ‘We are going to evaluate him. We are optimistic that if all goes well, there is a possibility that he will be called up, so we’ll see.’
Is Messi playing today?
Mascherano did not declare whether Messi would play against Charlotte.
Messi’s playing status will be confirmed when Inter Miami’s starting lineup is announced about an hour before kickoff on Sunday.
What time is Inter Miami vs. Charlotte FC match today?
The match begins at 4 p.m. ET (5 p.m. in Argentina) inside Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Charlotte FC match?
The match will be available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
How much has Messi played to begin 2025?
Mascherano said Messi was considered day to day with fatigue, after Inter Miami’s 2-0 win over Jamaican champions Cavalier FC in their Concacaf Champions Cup round-of-16 match last Thursday.
Messi also did not travel when Inter Miami played on the road against the Houston Dynamo, winning 4-1, on March 2.
Messi predominately played in three matches during a six-day stretch from Feb. 19-26, and eight matches in a 40-day span from Jan. 18 to Feb. 14, including five preseason matches played in Las Vegas, Peru, Panama, Honduras and Tampa, Florida.
Overall, Inter Miami has played in 10 matches in 47 days from Jan. 18 to last Thursday.
‘With so many matches in a short period of time, yes, clearly, we are looking at the issue of minutes,’ Mascherano said.
Mascherano said along with consulting with Inter Miami’s team doctors, he’s also gauged Messi on how he feels to determine his playing status.
What’s next for Messi later this month?
After the Charlotte match, Inter Miami will visit Cavalier FC at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica on Thursday for the second leg of their Champions Cup matchup. The match could be Messi’s first match in the Caribbean country.
When Inter Miami returns from Jamaica, they will travel to face Atlanta United on March 16 in a rematch of last season’s first-round series in the MLS Cup playoffs, which saw Messi and his side lose in upset fashion.
Messi is also expected to join the Argentine national team for two World Cup qualifying matches later this month. Argentina will visit Uruguay on March 21, then host Brazil on June 25.
‘I know that if Leo plays, we’re stronger. I’m not going to shoot myself in the foot – it’s crazy,’ Masherano said when asked about the risks of pushing Messi before he’s ready to play.
Messi’s upcoming schedule with Inter Miami, Argentina
Messi could play in the following six matches with Inter Miami and the Argentina national team later this month:
Sunday: Inter Miami vs. Charlotte, 4 p.m. ET (MLS)
Thursday: Cavalier FC vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. ET (Champions Cup)
March 16: Atlanta vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m. ET (MLS)
March 21: Uruguay vs. Argentina, 7:30 p.m. ET (2026 World Cup qualifier)
March 25: Argentina vs. Brazil, 8 p.m. ET (2026 World Cup qualifier)
March 29: Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS)