Lionel Messi starts: Confirmed lineups for FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami in MLS East semifinals

FC Cincinnati will host Inter Miami at TQL Stadium in Ohio on Sunday for the MLS Eastern Conference semifinals. With Lionel Messi driving Miami’s historic season, both the Orange and Blue and the Herons are poised to go full throttle in pursuit of a place in the conference final.

The hosts enter the match after edging past Columbus Crew in a three-game opening-round series that featured a 1-0 win, a stunning 0-4 defeat, and a decisive 2-1 victory. By finishing second with 65 points during the MLS regular season, Cincinnati earned home-field advantage at TQL Stadium with a spot in the final on the line.

Inter Miami, for their part, advanced after a roller-coaster series against Nashville that included a 3-1 win, a 1-2 loss, and a commanding 4-0 victory. That dominant performance, sparked by breakout star Mateo Silvetti while Luis Suárez was suspended, gives the Herons confidence heading into Cincinnati, a team they struggled against in 2025 (a 0-3 loss and a 0-0 draw).

Lionel Messi starting for Inter Miami

Messi carried Miami through the series against Nashville with five goals and one assist across the three matches. He then traveled to Africa for Argentina’s friendly against Angola, where he continued his strong form with a goal and an assist.

Now back in North America, Lionel Messi will be starting for the Herons against FC Cincinnati. With 42 goals and 20 assists in the 2025 season, having him fully fit and in the lineup will be crucial for head coach Javier Mascherano’s squad.

Confirmed lineups for FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami

FC Cincinnati’s confirmed lineup (3-5-2): Roman Celentano; Nick Hagglund, Miles Robinson, Teenage Hadebe; Ender Echenique, Pavel Bucha, Evander, Samuel Gidi, Lukas Ahlefeld Engel; Brenner, Kévin Denkey.
Head coach: Pat Noonan.

Inter Miami’s confirmed lineup (4-4-2): Rocco Ríos Novo; Marcelo Weigandt, Maximiliano Falcón, Noah Allen, Jordi Alba; Baltasar Rodriguez, Rodrigo De Paul, Sergio Busquets, Mateo Silvetti; Lionel Messi, Tadeo Allende.
Head coach: Javier Mascherano.