FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will host Toronto FC on Sunday Night Soccer, but how much will Messi play tonight?
Inter Miami will end MLS Matchday 7 this weekend in the MLS and Apple TV’s Sunday showcase. As one of the best teams in the league, they’re going to face a team near the bottom of the standings. And it’s imperative they play efficiently without injury with heir eyes set on a big match Wednesday.
After Inter Miami hosts Toronto, they’ll host LAFC in the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal matchup. LAFC leads 1-0 on aggregate score after the first leg last Wednesday. The tournament is one of five trophies Inter Miami will compete for this year.
Messi was unable to convert on three free kick opportunities during the first LAFC match, showing signs he may not be quite as sharp as he’s been in his legendary career, coming off a recent adductor strain in his left quad.
Messi could use some work against Toronto, whether he starts and plays about 60 minutes or comes off the bench to play the final 30 minutes. But it’s unclear how much Messi will play tonight.
What time does Inter Miami vs. Toronto match begin?
The match starts at 7 p.m. ET (8 p.m. in Argentina).
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Toronto live stream?
The match is available on MLS Season Pass and Apple TV+.
Is Messi playing tonight?
Messi’s status will be confirmed about an hour before the game when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup.
Messi shares MLS Season Pass free trial
Before the Toronto match, Messi shared a one month free trial to MLS Season Pass via his Instagram account. Use Messi’s personal link to redeem the one-month offer: apple.co/MessiGift.
Inter Miami vs. Toronto preview
Inter Miami enters the match after its first loss and its first 10 games of the year across all competitions, following the 1-0 defeat at LAFC last Wednesday. Inter Miami is unbeaten in MLS play and in second place (13 points) in the Eastern Conference after Columbus Crew (15 points) leapfrogged them in the standings following a 2-1 win against Montreal on Saturday. Toronto is 14th among 15 teams in the standings with just two points from two draws and four losses to start the season.
How are Inter Miami, MLS teams doing in Champions Cup?
Major League Soccer has four teams remaining in the Champions Cup: Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC, reigning MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Galaxy will visit Tigres on Tuesday in Monterrey (9 p.m. ET on FS1), after a scoreless draw at home in the first leg. Vancouver will visit Pumas on Wednesday in Mexico City (10:30 p.m. ET on FS1), after a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week.
Liga MX’s Club America and Cruz Azul will settle their scoreless quarterfinal in Leg 2 on Tuesday (11:30 p.m. ET on FS1).
Inter Miami/LAFC would meet the Vancouver/Pumas winner in the semifinal, while Galaxy/Tigres will see America/Cruz Azul.
Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule
- Wednesday: Inter Miami vs. LAFC, 8 p.m. ET (Concacaf Champions Cup)
- April 13: Chicago vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. ET (MLS)
- April 19: Columbus vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. ET (MLS)
- April 26: Inter Miami vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m. ET