Lionel Messi is preparing for his fourth tournament of the season with Inter Miami, an intense workload with little rest in between.
After a vertebral week with suspensions for Messi and Jordi Alba after skipping the MLS All-Star Game against Liga MX, the official unveiling of Rodrigo de Paul and a scoreless draw with FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami now focuses his attention on the 2025 Leagues Cup. The team of Javier Mascherano is preparing to start another competition in what has already been a full of season.
Inter Miami and Messi's Packed 2025 schedule
So far, Messi's Herons have participated in the Concacaf Champions Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and the current regular MLS season. Now they are participating in a tournament with high bet with top teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico's Liga MX. Miami opens group game on Wednesday 30 July against Atlas FC.
This year Inter Miami will discuss this year's competitions under a heavy workload. They have already played 34 official matches, and the group stage, against Atlas, Necaxa and Pumas Unam, will be crammed in just seven days. To stay sharp, the team plays a debilitating schedule from Wednesday and Saturday – Wednesday, with the clear goal of continuing to the knockout phase.
Ironically, the suspensions of Messi and Alba may have offered a much needed silver lining: Rest. The Argentinian captain had played 17 straight matches, while Alba only recently recovered the match fitness after returning a muscle injury in mid-June. Missing the All-Star game gave both veterans a short but valuable breath for the Leagues Cup-Slorn.
Messi and Miami ready to go again in Leagues Cup
There is no doubt: this is the most demanding season that Messi and Inter Miami have to do since the former Barcelona icon landed in North America. The team reached the semi -final of the Concacaf Champions Cup, reached a historic round of 16 matchup against PSG in the Club World Cup and is currently fifth in the Eastern Conference. Now they will have to prove themselves against the best Mexican sides of the top in another controversial competition.
The big question is how Inter Miami will manage the first phase of the Leagues Cup, and if they are improving, how they will balance knockout games with the constant struggle for play -off positioning in MLS.
The good news? The herons do not have to travel for games for group phase. All three will be played at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, which gives Messi and the company a rare and welcome home field advantage while continuing their marathon season.
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