Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are set to face Atlanta United on March 16, 2025, as part of Apple TV’s Sunday Night Soccer, with the match kicking off at 7 p.m. ET. This encounter marks a rematch from last year’s MLS Cup playoffs where Atlanta eliminated Inter Miami, the team recognized as the Supporters’ Shield winners.
Messi traveled with the team to Atlanta, but there are speculations about whether he will be starting or coming off the bench during this Eastern Conference matchup at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano addressed the media, assuring fans about Messi's fitness. He mentioned, “The club helped Messi avoid a possible injury with his three-game layoff to begin the month, and we decided to start giving him minutes.” Mascherano noted the team’s cautious approach to managing Messi's health, particularly after his return from injury.
Messi’s last appearance prior to the Atlanta match was on March 13, 2025, when he played against Jamaica Cavalier FC in the Concacaf Champions Cup. It was his first match since February 25, and Mascherano revealed, “The idea was for him to play 30-35 minutes to have good feelings again. Eventually, we were lucky to control the situation and it didn’t turn much more than exercising on the pitch.” During the match against Cavalier, Messi made quite the impact, entering the field at the 53rd minute and finding the back of the net with just seconds remaining, helping his team advance with a commanding 4-0 aggregate score.
Messi had been absent for Inter Miami’s victory against the Houston Dynamo on March 2 and did not play during the first leg against Cavalier FC on March 6. While he was expected to come off the bench during Inter Miami’s 1-0 victory against Charlotte on March 9, the coaches opted against risking him as Inter Miami was playing with just ten men after an early red card.
Historically, February had been hectic for Messi as he participated actively, playing three matches within six days, and eight during the subsequent 40-day stretch, including five preseason games. It’s clear the club is focused on keeping him healthy and finely tuned for the upcoming matches.
After the game against Atlanta United, Messi is expected to join the Argentine national team for two highly anticipated matches. Argentina will visit Uruguay on March 21, before hosting Brazil on March 25. These matches will be pivotal for his national team's momentum moving forward.
Inter Miami will return to MLS action at home on March 29 against Philadelphia Union, before visiting LAFC to play the first leg of their quarterfinal matchup in the Champions Cup on April 2. They will then host Toronto FC for another regular-season game on April 6 and face LAFC again on April 9 for the second leg of the Champions Cup.
The Atlanta United match promises to be engaging for soccer fans, and many are intrigued by whether Messi will start or provide firepower from the bench. Whichever way it goes, the anticipation surrounding his performance resonates with supporters and analysts alike, highlighting the superstar’s impact on the game.