Lionel Messi Returns to Inter Miami After Record-Breaking Argentina Farewell

Lionel Messi has returned to Inter Miami after bidding farewell to the Argentina national team earlier this week, closing a 21-year international career in front of more than 85,000 fans at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

Match Preview

Messi now aims to lift Inter Miami out of a five-match winless streak in Major League Soccer as they host DC United. Inter Miami sit third in the Eastern Conference with 46 points from 12 wins, 5 draws and 10 losses, level on points with New England who hold the tiebreaker with 14 wins. DC United stand 11th with 30 points from 6 wins, 8 draws and 12 losses, trailing the final playoff spot by three points.

Team Lineups

According to OneFootball, Inter Miami line up in a 4-3-3 formation at Nu Stadium with captain Leo Messi joined by Luis Suárez and Germán Berterame in attack. Dayne St. Clair starts in goal behind Gonzalo Luján, Casemiro, Micael and Sergio Reguilón, while Rodrigo De Paul, David Ayala and Matías Galarza form the midfield under head coach Cristian González. DC United deploy a 4-4-2 formation with Sean Johnson in goal, a back four of Kimito Nono, captain Lucas Bartlett, Kye Rowles and Keisuke Kurokawa, a midfield of Hosei Kijima, Andre Dozzell, Nikola Markovic and João Peglow, and Jackson Hopkins alongside Tai Baribo up front.

Context

Major League Soccer features a fiercely competitive regular season where teams fight to secure playoff berths in their respective conferences as the year progresses. Star players frequently balance demanding schedules between their club sides and high-stakes international duty for their home countries.