Messi expected to play, NYCFC vs. Inter Miami live updates
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami shift their focus to MLS play with a matchup against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, March 22. Messi is healthy and expected to play before he joins the Argentine national team for two friendlies in Argentina later this month, after a disappointing exit in the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this week. Messi has scored four of Inter Miami’s seven goals in a 2W-3D-1L start across all competitions.
Only Mateo Silvetti, Telasco Segovia and Rodrigo De Paul – Messi’s World Cup winning teammate, who was not present at Saturday’s practice – have also found the back of the net this season. NYCFC has three wins and a draw for a total 10 points, sitting ahead of Miami and behind first-place Nashville in the Eastern Conference standings. Midfielder Nicolás Fernández has been the team's top contributor with four goals this season.
Inter Miami and NYCFC last met in the MLS Eastern Conference final, with the Herons winning 5-1 on Nov. 29, 2025. “We played a conference final recently.
It’s practically the same team, they’ve only changed a few players, they have a coach who has a very clear idea of how he wants them to play and they do it very well," Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said before the match. “I think that the disappointment of being eliminated from the Champions Cup should fill us with energy to go and play a great game, show what we are capable of and get the three points. ” When is the NYCFC vs.
Inter Miami match? The match begins Sunday at 1 p. m.