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Why Is Lionel Messi Not Playing Tonight for Inter Miami vs Charlotte FC?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Mar 14, 2026 6:38 PM ET

Inter Miami will play their fourth MLS game of the season this year against Charlotte FC away from home.

The MLS champions have a rotated squad for the match against Charlotte FC, and head coach Javier Mascherano has not started the team's most important player, Lionel Messi.

This is the first match of the new MLS season where Messi does not start in the lineup for Inter Miami in the MLS. Inter Miami will be with Daniel Pinter and Luis Suarez in the attack.

Messi played for Inter Miami last weekend against DC United, where he scored his second goal of the season this year after three matches played.

Later in the week, Messi played the full game against Nashville SC, which was the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16; the match finished in a 0-0 draw.

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF shoots during the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Chris Carter/Getty Images)Photo by Chris Carter/Getty Images

Why Lionel Messi Is Not Starting

Lionel Messi is not injured after he played the full match against Nashville earlier this week. Despite not being injured, Messi is likely to be rested for the second leg against Nashville in a few days.

Inter Miami will host Nashville SC for the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup at Chase Stadium.

Messi is expected to be back for the match against Nashville next week at Chase Stadium, and he is being rested to avoid any injury ahead of that match. Rodrigo De Paul is also rested and will not play against Charlotte FC.

Neither player traveled with the team in Charlotte, North Carolina.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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