Lionel Messi starts: Confirmed lineups for Inter Miami vs New England Revolution in MLS

A question hovers over South Florida ahead of Inter Miami’s crucial home clash with the New England Revolution: Will Lionel Messi play? With their Supporters’ Shield defence slipping away, the Herons are fighting to stay in contention for a top-four playoff spot — and for pride. Both teams may stand at opposite ends of the table, but this fixture carries weight for very different reasons.

Messi’s influence continues to dominate the discussion around Miami’s season, and this weekend is no exception. After a stunning year filled with highs and heartbreaks, the club now faces a crossroads — balancing preparation for the playoffs with the burning desire to finish the regular season strong.

The Herons’ push to retain the MLS Supporters’ Shield has hit a stumbling block. Their 5-3 loss to Chicago Fire in midweek summed up the contradictions of their campaign: dazzling attack, but fragile defence. Two goals from Luis Suarez brought hope, but poor organization at the back proved costly.

Despite this setback, Chase Stadium remains a fortress. Miami had gone 12 games unbeaten at home across all competitions before the Chicago loss, making them one of the toughest sides to beat in Fort Lauderdale. But momentum has clearly shifted, and the pressure is on to regain rhythm before the post-season begins.

On the other side, New England Revolution is already out of playoff contention, sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Its campaign has been turbulent, marked by inconsistency and managerial upheaval. The club parted ways with Caleb Porter in September, after a run of just two wins in 15 games. Assistant Pablo Moreira has since stepped in as interim coach, and while results have been mixed, his side’s 2-0 win against Atlanta United showed signs of renewed confidence.

Will Messi feature?

The question that overshadows everything else: Will Lionel Messi take the field on Saturday night? Mascherano faced a difficult decision. With the Supporters’ Shield now almost out of reach, resting players for the playoffs might seem logical. But with Messi chasing both personal and collective milestones, the temptation to start him was irresistible.

The Argentine captain has gone two games without a goal, but still leads the MLS Golden Boot race by a single strike over LAFC’s Denis Bouanga. Complicating matters further, the October international window looms large. Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and Telasco Segovia are all expected to join their national teams for upcoming internationals — and with MLS not pausing during that period, Miami’s upcoming fixtures will be tricky to navigate.

So while fatigue and fixture congestion are concerns, this will be Messi’s last MLS appearance before international duty — and that made his inclusion even more logical.

Confirmed lineups

Inter Miami (4-4-2): Rocco Rios Novo; Ian Fray, Maximiliano Falcon, Noah Allen, Jordi Alba; Tadeo Allende, Rodrigo De Paul, Sergio Busquets, Baltasar Rodriguez; Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi.

New England Revolution (5-3-2): Matt Turner; Brandon Bye, Brayan Ceballos, Mamadou Fofana, Tanner Beason, William Sands; Allan Oyirwoth, Carles Gil, Matt Polster; Dor Turgeman, Leonardo Campana.