Does Lionel Messi play today? Where to watch Nashville SC x Inter Miami in MLS today at 8:30 pm

Lionel Messi takes part in the decisive game between Inter Miami and Nashville SC, at GEODIS Park, in Nashville, Tennessee, this Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 8:30 pm local time. The Argentine, with a contract renewed until 2028, is looking to advance to the Eastern Conference semi-finals after a 3-1 victory in the first game of the Major League Soccer playoffs. His performance in the regular season, with 29 goals and 19 assists, drives the team to reverse the previous year’s early elimination.

Messi, 38, leads Inter Miami with 48 goal contributions, almost an MLS record. The clash reflects their dominance over Nashville, with nine wins in nine games since 2023.

Coach Javier Mascherano confirmed Messi’s starting role, alongside Luis Suárez. Nashville, under B.J. Callaghan, bets on Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge to force game three.

• Messi has 31 total goals in MLS in 2025, including playoffs.
• He created 29 big chances and completed 91 successful dribbles.
• Against Nashville, he scored in seven of nine games.
• Weather forecast: 10°C, cloudy, no precipitation.

Messi’s numbers in MLS 2025

Messi finished the regular season with 29 goals, winning the Golden Boot for the second time. His 19 assists tied the league record, for a total of 48 goal involvements in 28 games.

He played 29 games, with a rate of 1.69 contributions per 90 minutes. His unpenalized xG reached 30.38, tops in MLS. Messi led in expected assists, with 14.48.

These data position him as the favorite for the MVP award for the second consecutive season. Suárez has 18 goals, but Messi accounts for 36% of the team’s goals.

The prime of Messi’s career

Messi reached his peak between 2009 and 2012 at Barcelona, with 211 goals in 219 games. In 2012, he scored a world record 91 goals in the calendar year.

His hat-trick against Real Madrid in 2007, aged 19, signaled his potential. The 2011 Champions League semi-final, with four goals against Arsenal, consolidated his era.

In the 2021 Copa América, he lifted the trophy with Argentina after 28 years, scoring seven goals. These peaks defined his mastery of dribbling, passing and finishing.

The 2009 Club World Cup, with a goal in the final, marked the first major European title. At 38, Messi maintains similar levels in MLS.

Messi’s impact on today’s game

Messi scored twice in the first playoff gamefs, including a rare flying header, and provided a secondary assist on Tadeo Allende’s goal. His vision created numerical superiority in Inter Miami’s attack.

Against Nashville, he accumulated 10 goals in three recent games, exploiting quick transitions. The team has won all nine matches since his arrival, with possession of 57% on average.

His presence forces defensive adjustments from the opponent, opening spaces for Suárez and De Paul. Mascherano adopts 4-3-3 with Messi centrally to maximize counterattacks.

At GEODIS Park, Messi can exploit dead balls, where Nashville has conceded 15 goals this season.

Match history and recent form

Inter Miami dominates Nashville with seven wins in nine games under Messi. The last one, in the regular season, ended 5-2, with his hat-trick.

Results of Miami’s last five:

• Inter Miami 3 x 1 Nashville SC (playoffs, 10/24/2025)
• Nashville SC 2 x 5 Inter Miami (MLS, 10/18/2025)
• Inter Miami 4 x 0 Atlanta United (MLS, 12/10/2025)
• Inter Miami 2 x 1 New York Red Bulls (MLS, 10/05/2025)
• Inter Miami 3 x 2 Columbus Crew (MLS, 09/28/2025)

Nashville is looking for a turnaround at home, where they have won 11 of 17.

Where to watch live and lineups

The broadcast takes place on Apple TV+ via MLS Season Pass, with narration in Portuguese for Brazil. The service costs US$14.99 per month and includes multiple cameras.

Probable lineup for Inter Miami: New; Fray, Falcón, Allen, Alba; De Paul, Busquets, Allende; Messi, Rodríguez, Suárez. Nashville: Willis; Najar, Zimmerman, Maher, Lovitz; Shaffelburg, Brugman, Tagseth, Muyl; Mukhtar, Surridge.

Tickets on the GEODIS Park website sold out quickly.

Curiosities about Messi and the confrontation

Messi is the fastest player to 40 contributions in MLS, in 26 games. He tied the record for multi-goals in a season with nine such games.

GEODIS Park, with 30 thousand seats, saw Messi’s hat-trick in the regular season. Referee Ismail Elfath blows the whistle, with a history of accuracy in playoffs.

Suárez and Messi together have a total of 47 goals in MLS. Nashville has never beaten Miami with Messi on the field.