FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will play their final match before the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday night against the Columbus Crew at Chase Stadium.
Messi has scored three goals in his last two matches, and is expected to play against Columbus. His status will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup an hour before the match.
Columbus Crew and Inter Miami have been two of the best clubs in Major League Soccer in recent years, but both are struggling in 2025.
Inter Miami has just two wins in its last 10 games - They beat the Crew 1-0 in Cleveland on April 19, and beat CF Montreal 4-2 last Wednesday. Columbus has four wins, four draws and two losses in its last 10 matches.
Columbus Crew won MLS Cup title in 2023, and Inter Miami beat Columbus to win the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2024. Both clubs also won the Leagues Cup tournaments - Inter Miami in 2023, and Columbus in 2024.
After the Columbus match, Messi will re-join the Argentine national team for two World Cup qualifiers, before Inter Miami enters the Club World Cup.
Here's everything you need to know about the Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew match, and stay tuned here for live updates from USA TODAY Sports:
The match begins Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina) inside Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Messi is expected to play, but his status will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup an hour before the match.
Inter Miami is the favorite to win at home (+105), while Columbus Crew is an underdog on the road (+195), and a draw has longer odds (+290) than an outright victory. The over/under is set at 3.5 goals, according to BETMGM.
Inter Miami has won three of its last four matches against Columbus Crew.
The match is an unofficial start to another busy summer for Messi - the Argentine World Cup champion and eight-time Ballon d'Or winner - in the twilight of his legendary career in the United States.
Here's what's next for Messi after the Columbus match: