Inter Miami vs. Cavalier FC live updates: Will Messi play tonight? Here’s the latest
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Will Lionel Messi play as Inter Miami returns to action in the Concacaf Champions Cup tournament?
Messi’s playing status was a topic of discussion as Inter Miami prepared to host Jamaican Premier League champions Cavalier FC at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday night at Chase Stadium.
Here’s what we know: Messi was not listed as a starter or a substitute in Inter Miami’s lineup for Thursday night’s game. He won’t play in a second straight game.
It’s likely Messi will continue a rest regimen led by coach Javier Mascherano to manage the World Cup champion’s playing time after a congested start to the year.
Mascherano said Wednesday that Messi is healthy and practiced with his teammates, but did not divulge whether Messi would play. Messi’s status was deemed “the same as the rest of the players.”
“We’ll see,” Mascherano said of Messi. “He’s in good health, but we’ll see what’s good for us.”
What’s good for Inter Miami is obviously Messi being healthy, then having him available to play. Messi missed his first game of the year due to rest when he did not travel for last Sunday’s match against the Houston Dynamo.
Messi predominately played in three matches during a six-day stretch from Feb. 19-26, and eight matches in a 40-day span from Jan. 18 to Feb. 14 when you include five preseason matches played in Las Vegas, Peru, Panama, Honduras and Tampa Bay, Florida.
“Obviously, with the matches, he has felt the fatigue, he has had an overload, but that’s why we decided he not go to Houston. That’s why,” Mascherano said. “We have already had some injuries, and we don’t want to fall back on a player so important to us, because what if we don’t give him a certain rest, he ends up injured and we don’t want to be out for a month.”
Thursday’s match begins another stretch of three matches in a week for Inter Miami.
On Sunday, Inter Miami hosts Charlotte FC in an MLS regular-season match. Next Thursday, Inter Miami will complete its round-of-16 matchup with Cavalier FC at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica — where Messi is expected to play his first match in the country in front of an already sold-out crowd of 35,000 ticket buyers.
Stay tuned here as USA TODAY Sports provides live updates from Thursday night’s match between Inter Miami and Cavalier FC.
The match begins at 8 p.m. ET (9 p.m. in Argentina).
The match will be available to watch on FS2 in English and ViX in Spanish.
No, Messi will not play in Inter Miami’s match against Jamaica’s Cavalier FC. He was not listed in Inter Miami’s starting lineup before the match.
Cavalier FC is playing in the Champions Cup tournament for the second time in as many years. They qualified directly into the round of 16 by winning the Concacaf Caribbean Cup in December.
The matchup against Inter Miami will be the second time Cavalier has faced MLS competition. Cavalier lost to FC Cincinnati by scores of 2-0 and 4-0 in the first round last year.
Cavalier FC coach and sporting director Rudolph Speid said Wednesday: “We’re really looking forward to doing well. I think it will inspire a generation of players in Jamaica itself, just because of what will happen. We’ll play them here. Everybody will be watching on TV. And, also in the return leg where we expect a packed stadium, and everybody just talking about the game. That inspiration is much more for the country than just our team.”
Messi could play in the following six matches with Inter Miami and the Argentina national team later this month:
What time is Inter Miami vs. Cavalier FC match?
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Cavalier FC match on TV?
Is Messi playing tonight?
What to know about Cavalier FC?
Messi’s upcoming schedule with Inter Miami, Argentina
Inter Miami vs. Cavalier: How to watch, stream Concacaf Champions Cup Leg 1
Monday, Mar 3, 2025, 11:49 PM
Inter Miami CF continue their 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup campaign Thursday night when hosting Jamaican side Cavalier FC in Leg 1 of a Round of 16 series.
Leg 2 will be played at Jamaica’s National Stadium on March 13, determining who reaches the CCC quarterfinals in early April. The aggregate winner will face either reigning Leagues Cup champions Columbus Crew or defending US Open Cup champions LAFC.
Seven MLS clubs remain in the prestigious continental tournament that grants a spot in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup. The single-match final will be held on June 1.
One of the pre-tournament favorites, Inter Miami looked the part in their Round One series against Sporting Kansas City, putting together a comprehensive 4-1 aggregate win.
Superstar Lionel Messi proved to be the difference-maker in Round One, scoring the lone goal in Miami’s 1-0 away victory over SKC in frigid temperatures, before opening the scoring with a stunning half volley in Leg 2. Fellow FC Barcelona legend Luis Suárez and new signing Tadeo Allende also scored to seal a 3-1 triumph in the second leg.
The Herons have started the MLS season on the right foot, most recently easing past Houston Dynamo FC, 4-1. Offseason signing Telaso Segovia netted 2g/1a, while Suárez contributed 1g/2a.
All set for the Round of 16. #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/jArwsRw0GV
Cavalier earned a Round One bye in CCC after winning the 2024 Caribbean Cup title. They are making their second-ever appearance in the region’s premier club tournament, after falling to FC Cincinnati in Round One of last year’s edition.
Cavalier sit fourth in the Jamaican Premier League, but are in good form, having lost just once in their last seven matches.
The Jamaican side are paced by Shaquille Stein (15g) and Jalmaro Calvin (14g), while midfielder Dwayne Atkinson has also added an attacking boost, with 10g/6a in all competitions this season.
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Is Lionel Messi Playing vs. Cavalier: Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16
UPDATE: 3/6/25, 6:40 p.m. ET: Lionel Messi was not included in Inter Miami’s squad.
Confirmed Miami Lineup: Ustari; Fray, Falcon, Martinez, Alba; Redondo, Busquets, Cremaschi; Segovia, Allende, Suarez
Inter Miami and head coach Javier Mascherano are seemingly managing Messi’s minutes heavily early this season now missing two games in a row despite no injury.
Lionel Messi’s availability for Inter Miami’s clash with Cavalier in the Concacaf Champions Cup remains up in the air, but not because of injury or suspension.
After scoring in both legs against Sporting Kansas City and starting the Major League Soccer opener against New York City FC, Messi was a surprise exclusion from Miami’s trip to Houston last weekend. Javier Mascherano confirmed before the Houston trip that Messi wasn’t injured and was training with the rest of the team. He was left out for load management as the coach balances the 37-year-old’s minutes early in the season.
Mascherano confirmed ahead of the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16 that Messi was training with the team and wasn’t injured. Though, there’s the possibility he doesn’t play in the first leg given given there’s a clash with Charlotte FC this weekend. Or, he only plays 45 minutes or so either as a starter or substitute.
Given Miami should be favored to advance past Cavalier after handedly dispatching an MLS counterpart the round prior, it wouldn’t be surprising if Messi was left out of the squad or left on the bench.
Uncertainty around Messi’s availability has created controversy in North America. The Houston Dynamo were the latest team to give fans complimentary tickets after it was reported he wasn’t traveling for their game.
Check back later today when Inter Miami announce their lineup ahead of an 8 p.m. ET kick-off.
Max Mallow is an editor for Sports Illustrated Soccer. Somehow, he has just enough time every matchday to tweet when an Arsenal player scores a goal.
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