Fort Lauderdale, Fla., April 7 (V7N) — Lionel Messi is set to play as Inter Miami takes on Toronto FC in Sunday's MLS matchup. Messi, who was named a starter just an hour before kickoff, will help close out MLS Matchday 7 in the highly anticipated Sunday showcase, aired on MLS Season Pass and Apple TV+.

The match is crucial for Inter Miami, who sits second in the Eastern Conference with 13 points, just behind Columbus Crew. They’ll face a Toronto FC side struggling near the bottom of the standings. With an eye on Wednesday’s upcoming Concacaf Champions Cup clash against LAFC, which leads 1-0 on aggregate, Messi and the team are focused on playing efficiently without risking injury.

After missing three free-kick opportunities in the first leg against LAFC, Messi is still recovering from a recent adductor strain in his left quad but remains a key figure for Miami. The match against Toronto kicks off at 7 p.m. ET (8 p.m. in Argentina).

In an exciting move, Messi also shared a one-month free trial for MLS Season Pass through his personal link on Instagram, giving fans a chance to enjoy the match live.

Inter Miami comes into the match after suffering their first loss of the season, a 1-0 defeat at LAFC, while Toronto FC struggles with only two points in their first six matches.

Upcoming Inter Miami Schedule:

  • Wednesday, April 10: Inter Miami vs. LAFC, 8 p.m. ET (Concacaf Champions Cup)

  • Friday, April 13: Chicago vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. ET (MLS)

  • Thursday, April 19: Columbus vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. ET (MLS)

  • Thursday, April 26: Inter Miami vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m. ET

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