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Messi’s 2025 takes shape: When he’ll play with Inter Miami, Argentina

When and where will Lionel Messi play soccer matches in 2025? Nearly 50 games are on Messi’s schedule, and it could reach more than 60 games if Inter Miami advances in multiple tournaments during a busy year.

MLS released its 2025 schedule Thursday, with Messi and the defending Supporters’ Shield champions Inter Miami playing in the season opener against New York City FC at home Feb. 22.

Inter Miami will meet Atlanta United – the club that bounced them in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs last season – March 16 in Atlanta. They’ll face each other again when Inter Miami hosts June 28.

Inter Miami will play the 2023 MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew April 19 at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, home of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.

Inter Miami will then face a tough stretch in May, playing seven games in 28 days with trips to Minnesota on May 10 and San Jose on May 14. After that, Inter Miami won’t travel west of Nashville for the rest of the MLS season.

The 2024 MLS Cup champion L.A. Galaxy will visit Inter Miami Aug. 16.

Inter Miami will be in action well before the 30th MLS season begins. The first game of the new year will be in Las Vegas against Mexican champions Club America January 18. Inter Miami will also meet in-state rival Orlando City in Tampa Feb. 14, four days before visiting Sporting Kansas City Feb. 18 for the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup tournament. The second game of the Miami-SKC series will be at Inter Miami Feb. 25, three days after the MLS season opener.

Messi and Inter Miami are also set to play in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. They will play Egyptian club Al Alhy on June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami; Portugal’s FC Porto June 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; and return to Miami to face Brazil’s SE Palmeiras June 23.

It is also likely Messi will join the Argentine national team for at least six 2026 World Cup qualifying matches this year: two in March, two in June and two in September during the FIFA international window breaks.

Inter Miami will also participate in the Leagues Cup tournament, which will be July 29 to August 31. The draw for the tournament has yet to be announced. Messi and Inter Miami won Leagues Cup in 2023.

Messi, Inter Miami preseason schedule

Jan. 18: Inter Miami vs. Club América, 10:30 p.m. (Las Vegas)
Feb. 14: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City, 7:30 p.m. (Tampa)
Another preseason game could be announced before the season.

Messi, Inter Miami 2025 MLS schedule

Feb. 22: Inter Miami vs. New York City FC, 2:30 p.m.
March 2: Houston vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m.
March 9: Inter Miami vs. Charlotte, 5 p.m.
March 16: Atlanta vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m.
March 29: Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
April 6: Inter Miami vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.
April 13: Chicago vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m.
April 19: Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. (in Cleveland)
April 26: Inter Miami vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m.
May 3: Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
May 10: Minnesota vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m.
May 14: San Jose vs. Inter Miami, 10:30 p.m.
May 18: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City, 7 p.m.
May 24: Philadelphia vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m.
May 28: Inter Miami vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
May 31: Inter Miami vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m. (seven games in 28 days)
June 28: Inter Miami vs. Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
July 5: Montreal vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m.
July 9: New England vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m.
July 12: Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
July 16: Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m.
July 19: New York Red Bulls vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m.
July 26: Inter Miami vs. Cincinnati, 7 p.m.
Aug. 10: Orlando City vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m.
Aug. 16: Inter Miami vs. L.A. Galaxy, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 23: D.C. United vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30: Inter Miami vs. Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 13: Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16: Inter Miami vs. Seattle Sounders, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20: Inter Miami vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 24: New York City FC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. (Citi Field)
Sept. 27: Toronto vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 4: Inter Miami vs. New England, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 18: Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami, 6 p.m.

Messi, Inter Miami in Concacaf Champions Cup schedule

Feb. 18: Sporting Kansas City vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. (first leg)
Feb. 25: Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8 p.m. (second leg)
March 4-6: Round of 16 (first leg)
March 11-13: Round of 16 (second leg)
April 1-3: Quarterfinals (first leg)
April 8-10: Quarterfinals (second leg)
April 22-24: Semifinals (first leg)
April 29-May 1: Semifinals (second leg)
June 1: Final

Messi, Inter Miami Club World Cup schedule

June 14: Inter Miami vs. Al Alhy (Egypt), Miami
June 19: Inter Miami vs. FC Porto (Portugal), Atlanta
June 23: Inter Miami vs. SE Palmeiras (Brazil), Miami
June 28-July 1: Round of 16
July 4-5: Quarterfinals
July 8-9: Semifinals
July 13: Final

Messi, Argentina World Cup qualifying 2025 schedule

March 20: Uruguay vs. Argentina
March 25: Argentina vs. Brazil
June 4: Chile vs. Argentina
June 9: Argentina vs. Colombia
Sept. 9: Argentina vs. Venezuela
Sept. 14: Ecuador vs. Argentina

This post appeared first on USA TODAY