Photo by Amanda Loman - Leagues Cup/MLS via Getty Images

Is Lionel Messi Playing Tonight For Inter Miami vs Charlotte FC After Missing Last Argentina Game?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Sep 13, 2025 2:38 PM ET

Inter Miami will take on Charlotte FC today, September 13, 2025. The match will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

It will be Inter Miami's first MLS match since late August, as the Herons were in the semifinal and the final of the Leagues Cup just before the September international break.

Lionel Messi was one of the few Inter Miami players who played in the international break with their respective national teams. Messi played with the Argentina national team during the international break.

Messi only played against Venezuela, where he scored a brace in his final official World Cup qualifier match in Argentina. Messi did not travel with the Argentina national team for their match against Ecuador earlier this week.

Lionel Messi is Set to Play vs Charlotte FC

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano spoke to the media ahead of the match against Charlotte FC and was asked about Messi. Mascherano confirmed that Messi is fit to play the match and that he trained with the team.

Mascherano was satisfied to see that Messi and the Argentina head coach, Lionel Scaloni, agreed that the Inter Miami star should not travel for the match against Ecuador in order for the player to rest.

Javier Mascherano: "Leo [Messi] is doing well. Luckily, we saw the possibility to see that he and [Lionel] Scaloni agreed not to travel to Ecuador so he could rest after the many games he has played. Especially after the injury he had. He was able to train with us all week."

Messi was seen training with the rest of the team just before the team travels for the match against Charlotte FC. Rodrigo De Paul will also play despite playing the two games with Argentina during the international break.

Meanwhile, Luis Suarez will miss the match due to suspension, but he was training with the rest of the team.

Watch: Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul & Luis Suárez in training today ✅

Messi & De Paul set to play tomorrow, while Suárez remains suspended. ❌

pic.twitter.com/dN4UY5hMnI
— Inter Miami News Hub (@Intermiamicfhub) September 12, 2025