Lionel Messi’s return to action could see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner play limited minutes during Inter Miami’s match Wednesday’s night against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Will Messi start and see an early exit? Will Messi come off the bench? Or, will Messi play at all in Atlanta?
Here’s the answer: Messi is not in the starting lineup and listed as a substitute for tonight’s match against Atlanta United.
Messi’s former Barcelona teammate are also not in action to begin the match: Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba are substitutes, while Sergio Busquets is out due to yellow card accumulations.
USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates from the match tonight here.
How to watch Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami live stream?
The Atlanta United match against Inter Miami begins 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina) and broadcast via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Why is Messi not starting vs. Atlanta United?
It will be Inter Miami’s second of three matches in a week span, which prompted coach Tata Martino to put a potential time limit on the Argentine World Cup champion.
After Inter Miami plays in Atlanta, Messi and the club will face New York City FC on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
Messi emphatically returned with two goals and an assist in a 3-1 win against Philadelphia last Saturday — his first game since the July 14 Copa America final, which Argentina win after he sustained his right ankle ligament injury.
“Leo is fine, he ended the game well. Tired, obviously,” Martino told reporters Tuesday. “It’s the first 90 minutes in a long time, but it ended very well. He is going to travel to both games. He is available but there are three games this week with travel included, so we have to see it day by day.”
Messi says he was ‘very happy’ after return
Messi scored goals in the 26th and 30th minutes, and assisted Luis Suarez in the 98th minute, playing the distance in his first match since July 14.
“To be honest, I am a little tired, the humidity and heat of Miami doesn’t help,” Messi said in a post-match interview with Apple TV. “But, I was very eager to come back, it had been a long time away from the field. Little by little I started training with the group, I felt good, and that is why we made the decision for me to start. I am very happy, very pleased.”
Messi jerseys tops MLS for second straight season
Messi’s Inter Miami jersey again topped the MLS list for highest-selling jerseys, the league announced Tuesday. His former Barcelona running mates also were ranked high: Luis Suarez (2nd), Sergio Busquets (11th) and Jordi Alba (15th).