Lionel Messi is seeking to lead Inter Miami previous once more.
Messi and Inter Miami host Nashville on March 18 (6 p.m. CT, FS2) within the second leg of the spherical of 16 sequence within the CONCACAF Champions Cup. It is going to be Inter Miami’s closing recreation at its momentary stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, earlier than the opening of its everlasting dwelling, Nu Stadium, in April in Miami.
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After a at Geodis Park on March 11, Miami must win so as to advance to the quarterfinals of North America’s high continental competitors. A scoreless tie would power additional time and probably penalties, whereas some other tie would see Nashville transfer on as a result of it’s going to have scored extra away targets.
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Finest photographs from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: German Berterame #19 of Inter Miami CF and Jeisson Palacios #4 of Nashville SC compete for the ball through the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photos)
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Finest photographs from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: German Berterame #19 of Inter Miami CF and Jeisson Palacios #4 of Nashville SC compete for the ball through the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photos)
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Finest photographs from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF enters the pitch previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photos)
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Finest photographs from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Hany Mukhtar #10 of Nashville SC leads the workforce out previous to previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photos)
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Finest photographs from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF enters the pitch previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photos)
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Finest photographs from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF greets Andy Najar #31 of Nashville SC previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photos)
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Finest photographs from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF warms up previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photos)
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Finest photographs from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Hany Mukhtar #10 of Nashville SC warms up previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photos)
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Finest photographs from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF warms up previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photos)
Is Messi taking part in right this moment in opposition to Nashville SC?
Messi isn’t coping with any recognized accidents, so barring unexpected circumstances, he’ll be out there in opposition to Nashville.
Messi and midfielder Rodrigo De Paul didn’t journey with Miami to its most up-to-date MLS match, a 0-0 tie at Charlotte FC on March 14. Coach Javier Mascherano in opposition to Charlotte as a result of he needed to get him relaxation, which means Messi needs to be able to play a full 90 minutes in opposition to Nashville, as he has in every of his first 4 video games this season.
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“We felt we had too many journeys deliberate, contemplating it was a man-made turf discipline, at all times difficult at Charlotte,” Mascherano on March 17. “We most popular they keep away from the journey, relaxation, and never must make one other journey.”
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Lionel Messi’s 900th purpose might come in opposition to Nashville
Messi has scored 899 targets for his golf equipment and the Argentina nationwide workforce throughout his profession. If he scores in opposition to Nashville, he would turn out to be the second participant ever to achieve 900 targets. Solely longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo (965) has extra.
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Messi has 15 targets and 4 assists in 11 matches in opposition to Nashville, although the primary leg at Geodis was simply the second time he has gone scoreless in opposition to NSC.
Nashville SC vs Inter Miami historical past
Nashville SC and Inter Miami have a . They each entered MLS as enlargement groups in 2020 and have been one another’s most frequent opponent since then. Leg 2 in Fort Lauderdale can be their twenty first assembly.
The all-time sequence stands at 9 wins for Miami, 5 wins for Nashville and 6 attracts. Whereas Nashville beat Miami within the wild-card spherical of the 2020 MLS playoffs, Miami has since eradicated Nashville from 4 cup competitions — the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup and 2025 MLS playoffs.
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