Lionel Messi Ready to Play in the Opening Match of the MLS Season in Los Angeles

JAKARTA - Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano confirmed that Lionel Messi will be available to play in the Major League Soccer (MLS) season opener against Los Angeles FC (LAFC) on Sunday, February 22, 2026, morning WIB.

"Messi is fine. He has been training at the same level as the rest of the team all week. He is fine and has a very positive feeling. So, he will go with good preparation, like the rest of the team," said Mascherano as reported by ESPN.

The attacker's participation in this match was initially in doubt after suffering a muscle injury in his left hamstring during a pre-season match against Barcelona SC on February 7, 2026.

Although Messi started the friendly, he left the field in the 58th minute to watch from the sidelines.

Inter Miami then chose to reschedule the last preseason friendly match against Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico to February 26, 2026, instead of the original date of February 13, 2026.

Messi has been back training with the rest of the squad since recovering from a muscular injury. Mascherano then stressed that all players who traveled with the team to California would be available for selection, including new players German Berterame and Tadeo Allende.

Mascherano then admitted that his team would face a difficult match against LAFC, given the quality of the players.

"However, it's clear that they are a great team. Of course, given the quality of their players and what they represent in the league, they are a team on paper that should be a contender."

"You always imagine the ideal match. The ideal match for us is the opposite, a match that is a back-and-forth attack."

"It's about controlling the game, dominating the ball for long periods, and preventing Los Angeles from making the transition because they need to move forward quickly," said Mascherano.

Inter Miami entered the 2026 season as the defending MLS champions, after lifting the 2025 MLS Cup by defeating Vancouver Whitecaps.

They will now compete in the Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, and Campeones Cup in addition to the MLS regular season.