Two-time FIFA champion Mia Hamm reflects on the Messi mania in the USA
Mia Hamm isn’t at all surprised at how Lionel Messi has taken America by storm.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
Lionel Messi will return to the pitch tonight for the first time in almost two weeks.
Messi, the Argentine World Cup winner and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, will be in the starting lineup when Inter Miami plays Toronto FC at the DRV PNK Stadium, the team announced before kickoff.
Will Messi play the whole game? Or will he possibly leave early? These are some natural questions that will be answered when both sides kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Messi has not played since September 7, when he scored a free kick to lead Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their 2026 World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires.
The game was his 12th in 48 days, a highlight highlighted by Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup title win.
Messi missed Inter Miami’s 5-2 loss to Atlanta United on Saturday and Argentina’s 3-0 win over Bolivia on September 12.
The game between Inter Miami and Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida begins at 7:30 p.m. ET and Apple TV will broadcast the game.
Messi has returned to the Inter Miami pitch and is warming up with his teammates ahead of tonight’s game.
Here is a video of Messi, the last in the top row behind Sergio Busquets.
That’s the burning question for soccer’s biggest star, as the Inter Miami newcomer and Argentina World Cup winner has missed his last two games.
Messi is in Inter Miami’s starting lineup, but how often he plays remains an open question.
Here are the starting lineups for both teams:
Jim Reineking, sports editor: Inter Miami 4, Toronto FC 1. Toronto has had a nightmarish season and is fighting for the dreaded Wooden Spoon (an unofficial prize given to the team with the worst record in the league). TFC went nearly three months between wins, and in the middle of that terrible run, coach Bob Bradley was fired (yes, the same Bob Bradley who led the USMNT to the Round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup and LAFC to the 2019 Supporters’ Shield). If Lionel Messi – as well as his former Barcelona friends Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba – start this game, it could be an ugly defeat.
Safid Deen, sports reporter: Messi scores a goal and receives an assist during a shutout. Miami 4, Toronto 0.
Alicia DelGallo, senior editor: Messi comes on for 30 minutes and Inter Miami beats Toronto 3-1.
According to BetMGM, Inter Miami is the -350 favorite (risk $350 to win $100) to win over Toronto (+775). A draw is rated at +475, with the over/under for goals scored at 3.5 (-115).
If you are new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place bets online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promotions and bonus codes from online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino was noncommittal when asked about the availability of Messi and fellow standout Jordi Alba for the Toronto game.
“Messi and Alba will complete the full training session with the team today and after that we will see whether and to what extent they are ready to play,” Martino told reporters on Tuesday. “Starting Wednesday, we have six games in 18 days, so one game every three days, including the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup final.”
Inter Miami has eight games remaining on Wednesday, seven of which are in the MLS season.
Inter Miami has 28 points in 27 games and is seven points behind ninth-place team DC United.
However, further defeats would be devastating to Inter Miami’s MLS postseason hopes.
It’s clear Inter Miami is struggling with multiple factors, including resting Messi, fighting for a second championship next week and fighting for a spot in the MLS playoff race this season.
Inter Miami will face Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup final on September 27th. Before that, however, Inter Miami has two MLS games, the second away against rival Orlando City on Sunday.
After defeating Nashville in the League Cup final in July, Inter Miami could clinch a second championship with Messi as lead orchestrator.
“That doesn’t mean we won’t try,” Martino said of the MLS playoff race last week, “but it’s true that we’re focused on the 27th.”
Messi went scoreless for the second time with Inter Miami, but assisted two goals in a 3-1 win over LAFC on September 4 in Los Angeles.
Inter Miami beat Sporting Kansas City 3-2 on September 9th while Messi was away to Argentina.
Like the rest of the MLS, all Inter Miami games can be watched on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass – with the exception of the US Open Cup final on September 27th, which can be streamed on the CBS Sports Golazo Network. Keep in mind that if Messi leads Inter Miami into the MLS playoffs, some of those postseason games could also be broadcast on FOX.
- Charlotte FC vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- DC United vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Inter Miami CF vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- CF Montreal vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
- New York City FC vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- New York Red Bulls vs. Austin FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Houston Dynamo FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Sporting Kansas City vs. Nashville SC, 8:30 p.m. ET
- St. Louis City SC vs. Los Angeles FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Colorado Rapids vs. Seattle Sounders, 9:30 p.m. ET
- Real Salt Lake vs. FC Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET
- Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Minnesota United, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m. ET
All games can be streamed on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass.
Netflix is releasing a documentary series about David Beckham based on the soccer superstar’s life and career. The project, titled ‘Beckham’, explores how the former England captain and current co-owner of Inter Miami captured international attention with his lightning-fast playing style, forward-thinking fashion and dynamic romance with pop icon Victoria ‘Posh Spice’ Beckham.
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