Will Lionel Messi be at New England Revolution vs Inter Miami? | OneFootball

Despite two European finals happening this week, including the Champions League, the news that Lionel Messi has signed for Inter Miami has massively stolen the show.

Fans won't immediately be able to see the 2022 World Cup winner on the pitch in America for a few different reasons, the main one being that his deal with Paris Saint-Germain is not up until the end of June.

As well as that, MLS has got a calendar that looks very unusual to the European eye.

That being said, fans will be thrilled to get any glimpse of Messi in an MLS setting and they are wondering if that could happen against Atlanta United.

When do Inter Miami next play?

Messi is not expected in the US anytime soon due to his involvement in upcoming Argentina friendlies against Australia and Indonesia.

Due to the differences between the European and North American football calendars, Messi's first game for Inter Miami could actually come in the new Leagues Cup tournament that is taking place for the first time in 2023.

Inter Miami's first game in that tournament is at home against Cruz Azul on July 21. Whether Messi is in the starting lineup or even on the bench will be down to how quickly he gets settled into his new surroundings and whether there are any paperwork issues, as can often be a hindrance when a player joins a league in a different continent.

The cheapest ticket for that game against Cruz Azul is currently selling for $600. With the way that tournament works, Inter Miami are also guaranteed to play Atlanta United on July 25. That is where Messi could line up against Argentina teammate Thiago Almada.

After a recent Argentina game, Messi said of Almada: "Thiago is very fresh. He's a very fast player who can play 1v1. He's clever and isn’t afraid of anything."

The two teams at the top of that three team group advance to the next round of the Leagues Cup, which affects how many games Messi plays and how many fans get to see him.

Even if Messi is not able to play in those group games of the Leagues Cup, it's very possible he will be in attendance. It would not be surprising if the powers that be are doing all they can to make sure Inter Miami keep Messi as visible as possible. It's a major opportunity for the league.

When will Lionel Messi play in MLS?

As for MLS itself, the Leagues Cup is followed by the summer break. They will not be in league action until August 20 when they take on Charlotte FC at home. Excitement will have been building and building during the Leagues Cup, but there will be even more focus on this game.

While that is a long wait to appear in MLS, Messi could find himself featuring in the MLS All-Stars game in his first outing as a US-based player. The game is against Premier League side Arsenal on July 19 and is a part of the Gunners' pre-season preparations.

There's not too much expectation on Messi to be a major part of the game just yet but the organisers will surely do all they can to ensure he gets some minutes so the interest in the game is boosted.