FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Lionel Messi is expected to play with Inter Miami against Charlotte FC in front of a sellout crowd at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.
It is Inter Miami’s first since their Leagues Cup final loss to the Seattle Sounders on Aug. 31. And they’ll face the hottest team in Major League Soccer.
Charlotte has a chance to tie an MLS record with nine consecutive wins if they beat Messi and Inter Miami.
Here’s everything you need to know about today’s Charlotte vs. Inter Miami match:
Charlotte 2, Inter Miami 0: Idan Toklomati scores second goal
Charlotte has doubled their lead just minutes into the second half. Idan Toklomati has a brace, scoring a goal in the 49th minute, finishing a stellar sequence by Charlotte to take a 2-0 lead against Messi and Inter Miami.
Charlotte 1, Inter Miami 0: Idan Toklomati scores goal
Just minutes after Messi missed a penalty shot, Charlotte has taken the lead with a goal from Idan Toklomati in the 34th minute.
Inter Miami 0, Charlotte 0: Messi misses penalty shot in 32’
Messi failed to score a penalty goal in the 32nd minute, his chip shot blocked by Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina. Messi had a chance in the penalty area, and was bumped by Charlotte defender Djibril Diani in the 30th minute. The penalty was confirmed after VAR. Inter Miami was the only team in MLS to not earn a penalty attempt this season through 25 games, before the penalty was granted.
Inter Miami 0, Charlotte 0: Jordi Alba’s shot saved by Kristijan Kahlina
Jordi Alba’s left boot was saved by Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina in the 6th minute. The sequence was initiated by a through pass from Messi up the pitch, and a cross from Tadeo Allende to Alba for Inter Miami’s first shot on goal in the match.
Is Messi playing today?
Messi traveled to Charlotte and is expected to play. He was announced as a starter in the Inter Miami starting lineup before the match.
What time is Charlotte vs. Inter Miami match?
The match begins at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina).
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How to watch Charlotte vs. Inter Miami match?
The match will be available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Charlotte vs. Inter Miami betting odds
Here are the betting odds, according to BetMGM.
Charlotte: +160
Draw: +270
Inter Miami: +135
Over/under: 3.5 goals
What to know about Charlotte and Inter Miami
Inter Miami will begin a stretch of seven matches in the next 22 days. They’ll also be without Luis Suarez, who will miss his first match in a three-game MLS suspension after spitting on a Seattle staff member after the Leagues Cup loss. Suarez was also issued a six-match Leagues Cup suspension for the incident.
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Charlotte has not lost a match at home since May 24, and has not lost an MLS match since June 28 against the Chicago Fire. However, coach Dean Smith will miss the match due to suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Charlotte is third in the MLS Eastern Conference standings with 50 points from 29 matches this season, while Inter Miami is sixth with 46 points in 25 matches. Inter Miami has four matches in hand to play after participating in the Club World Cup and Leagues Cup.
Here’s the latest on Messi
Messi returns to MLS play after a nine-day layoff. He recently played the last World Cup qualifier of his career in Argentina, where he scored two goals in a 3-1 win against Venezuela on Sept. 4. He recently recovered from a right hamstring injury last month.
“He was able to train with us all week. He trained well, so he’ll be ready for [Saturday],” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said of Messi before Friday’s practice.
Will Messi play in 2026 World Cup?
Messi has yet to declare whether he will play in the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer. But he did offer some insight after the Argentina match earlier this month.
“Because of my age, the most logical thing is that I won’t make it. But well, we’re almost there so I’m excited and motivated to play it,” Messi said on Sept. 4.
“Like I always say, I go day by day, match by match. That’s it taking it day by day, going by how I feel. Day by day, trying to feel good and above all, being honest with myself,” Messi added.
“When I feel good, I enjoy it. But when I don’t, honestly, I don’t have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don’t feel good. So, we’ll see. I haven’t made a decision about the World Cup.”
Messi added: “Match by match, I’ll finish the season, then I’ll have preseason, and there will be six months left. So, we’ll see how I feel. Hopefully I’ll have a good preseason in 2026, and finish this MLS season well, and then I’ll decide.”
Messi’s upcoming schedule with Inter Miami
Sept. 13: Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Sept. 16: Inter Miami vs. Seattle Sounders, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Sept. 20: Inter Miami vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Sept. 24: New York City FC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Sept. 27: Toronto FC vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Sept. 30: Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)